§ Mr. CoxTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what guidance her Department issues to those constructing buildings for which it is responsible on the use of materials containing asbestos. [52309]
§ Clare ShortThe Department for International Development (DFID) does not undertake the construction of any buildings. In those buildings that it occupies there are strict guidelines laid down to protect staff and visitors from any hazard to health. All areas in which such a hazard exists (such as certain partitions in the Victoria Street Headquarters) are clearly marked.
Construction standards for buildings constructed with DFID assistance in developing countries do not permit the use of asbestos.
Occasionally DFID has assisted with projects involving the modification of buildings which are found to contain asbestos. One such case occurred with the Zimbabwe Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) in the upgrading of air traffic control systems. DFID introduced specialist technical assistance for DCA staff and contractors to deal with this problem in the short term and to be aware of it for the future.