§ Mr. Martyn JonesTo ask the right hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed, representing the House of Commons Commission, what assessment the Commission has made of the presence of(a) hazardous materials and (b) ozone-depleting substances within those buildings for which it is responsible; and if he will make a statement. [16281]
§ Mr. BeithThe buildings on the parliamentary estate have been assessed under the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health—COSHH—Regulations 1994. Hazardous substances are recorded and risk assessments are acted upon to minimise hazards. Environmentally friendly products are used whenever possible. A register is kept of the locations on the parliamentary estate where asbestos is known to remain. Ultimately the aim is to remove any materials containing asbestos but this cannot be done all at once, nor is it necessary to do so. Remaining asbestos is sealed and inspected at regular intervals. All equipment containing ozone depleting substances is registered and is inspected quarterly. As this equipment becomes obsolete it is replaced with environmentally friendly alternatives.