A central register of Asbestos and phased removal of Asbestos from all buildings

I want the Government to commit to two key recommendations of the Work and Pensions Committee inquiry into the management of asbestos. We do not know where all the asbestos is in the country so we need a central register, and we need to make a plan for its safe removal over the next 40 years.

Over 5,000 people still die from Asbestos related diseases in the UK every year, and these are preventable. There is currently no cure for Mesothelioma in particular with up to 2,700 people still being diagnosed every year. We have no accurate data on how much asbestos there is, figures fluctuate between 300,000 and 1.5 million buildings in the UK and as buildings age the asbestos deteriorates and the risk of exposure increases. The most high-risk settings are schools and hospitals.

The Government recognises the devastating impact asbestos related disease has on those who have been exposed and their families. We will continue to do all that we can to ensure the legacy asbestos risk in Great Britain is managed effectively.

We are not opposed to any steps which would enable the risk of asbestos exposure to be better managed. However, there needs to be clear evidence to demonstrate how responding to the two recommendations would improve health outcomes.

It is the Government’s view that Great Britain has a mature and comprehensive plan to manage asbestos risk that aligns with the best evidence currently available. This is through the implementation of Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012.

These regulations require those who own or are responsible for the maintenance and repair of non-domestic buildings (known as duty holders) to assess whether asbestos is present, what condition it is in and whether it gives rise to a risk of exposure. They must then draw up a plan to manage the risk associated with asbestos, which must include removal if it cannot be safely managed in situ.

Asbestos must also be removed if it is in poor condition or a vulnerable position, and before any refurbishment and demolition work. This will lead to the elimination of asbestos from the built environment, without the need for a fixed deadline.