§ Mr. CoxTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what has been the tonnage of asbestos imported into the European Union from Canada in each of the last three years. [36147]
§ Mrs. RocheData on EU imports of asbestos from Canada are given in the table.
EU1 imports of asbestos2 from Canada Year Tons 1994 71,355 1995 71,744 1996 46,087 January-July 1997 13,617 1EU 15 countries throughout. 2Code 278.4 of the Standard International Trade Classification (SITC) Revision 3. Source:
Eurostat Intra and Extra EU Trade.
§ Dr. GodmanTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what specific products containing chrysotile asbestos are(a) imported into the United Kingdom and (b) manufactured in the United Kingdom; what is the annual tonnage of asbestos incorporated in such products; and if she will make a statement. [36748]
§ Mrs. Roche[holding answer 2 April 1998]Some of the commodity codes used in official statistics do not distinguish products containing asbestos from those containing potential replacement materials. That is, they cannot be distinguished from potential substitute products.
Table 1 shows the position for those commodity codes where there is no ambiguity; all goods contain some chrysotile asbestos.
157WTable 2 shows the position for commodity codes which can include both goods containing chrysolite asbestos and goods containing alternative materials.
Table 2: Commodity codes within which goods may contain some chrysotile asbestos Tariff code Description Imported by UK in 1997? Produced in UK in 1996? Articles of asbestos cement, of cellulose fibre-cement or the like (Standard Industrial Trade Classification heading 661.83) 6811 1000 Corrugated sheets Yes Yes 6811 2011 Sheets, not exceeding 40 x 60 cm, for roofing or walls Yes 6811 2080 Panels, tiles and similar articles Yes[...] 6811 3000 Tubes, pipes and tube or pipe fittings Yes Yes 6811 9000 Other articles Yes Yes Friction material and articles thereof, not mounted, for brakes etc. with basis of asbestos, cellulose or other mineral substances, whether or not combined with textile or other materials (Standard Industrial Trade Classification heading 663.82) 68131010 Brake linings and pads, for use in civil aircraft Yes Yes 68131090 Other brake linings and pads Yes 6813 9010 Other, for use in civil aircraft Yes Yes 6813 9090 Other Yes In some cases, the sales information on which the final column is based is collected only for combinations of products. Goods sold without being subjected to any manufacturing process have been excluded in deriving this column.
Information on the detailed composition of products imported or manufactured is not available.
§ Dr. GodmanTo ask the President of the Board of Trade from which countries chrysotile asbestos fibres imported into the United Kingdom originate and what was the total annual tonnage of chrysotile asbestos fibres imported into the United Kingdom from each country in each of the past five years; and if she will make a statement. [36747]
§ Mrs. Roche[holding answer 2 April 1998]Chrysotile asbestos is not separately identified in the system under which United Kingdom trade is recorded. However, since 1986, trade in all other forms of asbestos has been prohibited. The figures in the table, therefore, relate to chrysotile asbestos.
UK imports of asbestos1 1993–97 Tonnes 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 Austria 73 0 0 0 0 Belgium/Luxembourg 21 39 26 0 0 Brazil 0 23 0 0 0 Canada 8,348 8,767 8,519 6,134 3,915 Irish Republic 0 0 1 0 0 Slovakia 0 20 0 0 0 Germany 15 0 0 0 0 Japan 2 0 0 0 0 South Africa 360 450 553 602 496 Switzerland 0 0 1 1 0 USA 123 51 84 20 149 Zimbabwe 740 2,117 980 342 261 Totals 9,681 11,466 10,164 7,099 4,820 1 Asbestos is defined as code 278.4 of the Standard International Trade Classification, Revision 3, (SITC Rev 3). This does not include asbestos cement and manufactures containing asbestos. Source:
HM Customs and Excise
158W
§ Dr. GodmanTo ask the President of the Board of Trade which United Kingdom owned companies are engaged(a) in the mining of amphibole asbestos fibres and (b) in the manufacture of products containing such asbestos fibres; and if she will make a statement. [36740]
§ Mrs. Roche[holding answer 2 April 1998]I am not aware of any United Kingdom owned companies engaged in mining of amphibole asbestos fibres or engaged in the manufacture of products containing amphibole asbestos fibres.
§ Dr. GodmanTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the total annual tonnage of chrysotile asbestos fibres incorporated into products sold by United Kingdom companies in each of the past five years; and if she will make a statement. [36739]
§ Mrs. Roche[holding answer 2 April 1998]Information on the detailed composition of products is not collected.