§ Chris McCaffertyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what powers his Department has to require companies dealing with asbestos to release information regarding former employees who have contracted an asbestos-related disease. [136761]
§ Mr. BrowneI have been asked to reply.
263WRegulation 21 of the Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 2002 (S.I. 2002 No. 2675) requires employers to keep their employee's personal health records for 40 years. The Regulation allows the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to request copies of those records as and when they require. HSE could release such information they obtain only if the employee gave permission or if it were needed for legal proceedings.