§ Dr. CableTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action her Department, its agencies and non-departmental public bodies are taking to comply with the requirements of the Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 2002; whether she has made an estimate of the cost of compliance; and if she will make a statement. [117702]
§ Ms HewittThe DTI has for the London Estate an Asbestos Register of known asbestos materials. We inspect the known asbestos on a regular basis to ensure that it is still safe. If not we would recommend the necessary action such as removal or encapsulation. We are contacting landlords or Managing Agents to prepare the necessary documentation of known asbestos for all buildings that the DTI or agencies occupy.
We are proposing to be ahead of the requirement to comply with the Regulations by the end of the year.
Procedures are in place to advise contractors of any known or suspect material when they are working within a specific vicinity.
A procedure is in place for the identification of known locations.
Costs can not be identified at present until such time as the whole has been surveyed.