§ Dr. Cable:To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much has been spent by his Department and its agencies on (a) asbestos surveys and (b) the management and removal of asbestos since 1 January 2001; and what budget is available to (i) commission asbestos surveys and (ii) manage and remove asbestos from buildings in (A) 2003 and (B) 2004. [130920]
§ Ms Rosie Winterton:Asbestos surveys and its management are generally included within normal routine maintenance and are not normally separately identifiable. However, using those charges that are identifiable, in the period from January 2001 to date, the Department, it's executive agencies and executive non-departmental public bodies have spent £119,000 on asbestos surveys and £794,000 on the management and removal of asbestos.
For the vast majority of departmental accommodation, the cost of future surveys and on-going management of asbestos is included within general building maintenance budgets and they are not separately identifiable. The information where costs are separately identifiable is:
Department of Health headquarters (London)—asbestos management budgets of £403,000 for 2003–04 and £600,000 for 2004–05 have been allocated.National Institute for Biological Standards and Control—asbestos management budget of £110,000 for 2004–05.Health Protection Agency—asbestos management budgets of £35,000 for 2003–04 and £70,000 for 2004–05.