§ Mr. ClaphamTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will encourage UK firms engaged in overseas construction projects to prohibit the use of asbestos or materials containing it in their current and future schemes. [119606]
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§ Mr. FoulkesThe prohibition of dangerous substances such as asbestos is a matter for Governments rather than private firms. We are committed to working with our partner countries in their efforts to improve standards of environmental regulation and reverse trends in environmental degradation. This may include advice on the prohibition, use and handling of asbestos.
We also support a proposal from the EC to bring asbestos fibres within the scope of the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade. At present only blue asbestos is covered by the Convention.
§ Mr. ClaphamTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will take steps to ensure that no asbestos or materials containing it are used in(a) current and (b) future projects funded by her Department; and if she will make a statement. [119605]
§ Mr. FoulkesConstruction standards for buildings built with the Department's assistance in developing countries do not permit the use of asbestos. Occasionally we have 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. We introduced specialist technical assistance for DCA staff and contractors to deal with this problem in the short term and be aware of it for the future.
We have also funded research to develop alternatives to asbestos sheets as roofing materials.
Period Agency Area Food (MT) Non-food Total cost(£) June 1999-June 2000(Extension for capacity building and rubbhall erection) SCF-UK Belg producing areas of North and South Wollo,Amhara region 6,000 cereal, 486 famix 6 rubbhalls (mobile storage),4 nutritional monitoring teams, training 1,498,482 October 1999-February 2000 SOS Sahel Kindo Koisha Woreda,North Omo Zone, SNNPR 3,000 cereal, 1,000 cereal No 1789,403 January-August 2000 Interaide France Kindo Koisha Woreda SNNPR 150 famix Nutritional assessment Capacity building, nutritional training. 92,405 March-August 2000 SCF-UK Gubaiafto and Wadla Wored as, North Wollo,Amhara region 6,240 cereal Emergency seed provision 1,482,240 January-July 2000 FARM Africa Konso Special Woreda, SNNPR 3,700 cereal Emergency seed provision Woreda and regional level emergency response capacity building 1,098,621 April-September SOS Sahel Borana Zone (Yabello, Liben, Arero) 2,500 cereal, 300 pulses, 200,000 litresoil Emergency water tankering. Set up temporary water storage facilities. Emergency seed provision 1,134,525 April-December 2000 SOS Sahel Kindo Koisha Woreda, SNNPR 2,900 cereal Emergency distribution of seeds and planting materials 927,086 April-October 2000 Action Contre La Faim (ACF) Korahai Zone, SNRS 128.7 supplementary food — 389,179 2 months April-May 2000 WFP Bale Zone, Oromiya State — To provide truck maintenance and to contribute to road clearance 12,500 2 months April-May 2000 WFP Beyada Woreda, Amharastate — Construction of a road bridge and to improve access for relief supplies 11,250+ 1Purchased from funds remaining from 1999 allocation