§ Mr. ClaphamTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps the Health and Safety Executive is taking to ensure that best practice is applied by local authorities to manage the risk of asbestos to their building and maintenance workers; and what plans he has to make it a duty for owners to survey and identify asbestos in their property. [30964]
§ Mr. MeacherThe Health and Safety Executive has issued advice and guidance on best practice for all employers, including Local Authorities, who have responsibilities for workplace buildings which may contain asbestos. Its publication 'Managing Asbestos in Workplace Buildings', has featured prominently in publicity and enforcement campaigns.
This Government are firmly committed to ensuring that the risks arising from exposure to asbestos are further controlled. I have asked the Health and Safety 144W Commission to develop proposals of principle to strengthen legislation. These proposals will include duties to manage the risks from asbestos taking all reasonable steps to identify and record its location within the property.
§ Mr. ClaphamTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps(a) the Health and Safety Executive and (b) his Department are taking to challenge the decision of the EU Technical Committee on 11 February that white asbestos poses no greater risk than the substitutes replacing it. [30965]
§ Mr. MeacherThe interim opinion by a European Commission scientific committee on the safety of substitutes for white asbestos raised questions about the strength of evidence presented to it. The Committee has not, however, reached any firm conclusions. It has asked for more or better evidence. The Health and Safety Executive is actively reviewing how such evidence can be put before this Committee. The Government continue to give high priority to pressing for EU action on dealing with the asbestos problem overall.