§ Mr. ClaphamTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will press 53W for (a) a Europe-wide ban on the import of asbestos and asbestos products, (b) the introduction of a system for registering asbestos products in public buildings and (c) further regulation of the asbestos removal licensing system. [1699]
§ Angela EagleI appreciate the concerns of the hon. Member on this matter. The Government is determined to deal effectively with all aspects of the asbestos problem. The Health and Safety Commission has already put in hand urgent work to support the EU activity to ban the supply of all asbestos, with exceptions for essential users; to consider the feasibility of registering asbestos in public buildings; and to review the asbestos removal licensing system. I will be discussing these issues with the Health and Safety Commission shortly.