§ Mr. Martyn JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment his Department has made of the presence of(a) hazardous materials and 691W (b) ozone-depleting substances within those buildings which his Department occupies; and if he will make a statement. [16284]
§ Mr. HagueMy Department's property management regime provides for professional consultants to carry out regular inspections and assessments of Welsh Office buildings aimed at identifying all significant hazardous materials. Welsh Office property records highlight factors relating to our buildings which present a potential health and environmental hazard. From the information compiled, annual maintenance programmes are devised and implemented to ensure full compliance with statutory and health and safety obligations.
Specifically, asbestos registers are maintained for all Welsh Office property. Other significant health and environmental hazards covered by Welsh Office risk management arrangements include: legionella, water chlorination, radon and ozone-depleting substances.
Welsh Office policy on ozone-depleting substances is to reduce and ultimately eliminate their use in its buildings. My Department has replaced all halon fire extinguishers with ozone-friendly alternatives. It has also established an inventory of the remaining equipment which contain ozone-depleting chemicals. These substances are used mainly by the Welsh Office in the operation of the main refrigeration plant. All such systems are subject to stringent maintenance regimes intended to readily detect any abnormalities.