§ Dr. CableTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 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. [130921]
§ Mr. RammellThe Foreign and Commonwealth Office commissioned a complete review of asbestos in buildings in the UK in 2002. The cost of this survey was £81,500. Approximately £180,000 has been spent on the removal of asbestos during routine maintenance and refurbishment works. No further expenditure on surveys is anticipated for the next two years. There is no planned programme for asbestos removal in 2003 and 2004 as the review did not indicate that this is necessary.
In our posts overseas, the cost of asbestos specific surveys since January 2001 has been £72,672. The management and removal of asbestos is however a component of building maintenance budgets devolved to our Posts, and it is therefore not possible separately to identify asbestos related expenditure without incurring disproportionate costs.