DECISION OF THE EU TECHNICAL COMMITTEE ON WHITE ASBESTOS

Early day motion 1088, tabled 16 March 1998 by Michael Clapham (Labour). Signed by 117 members.

That this House is disappointed by the decision of the EU Technical Committee of Experts that there is insufficient evidence to decide that health risks from exposure to substitutes is less than that posed by white asbestos, when world wide research into the health effects of white asbestos has not identified a safe threshold level of exposure and current EU legislation classifies it as category 1 carcinogen; calls on the HSC to marshal the information; and urges the Government to proceed on the basis of the robust evidence that has already persuaded seven European countries to ban white asbestos.

Signatures by party: Labour 94, Labour/Co-operative 8, Liberal Democrat 8, UUP 3, Conservative 1, DUP 1, Plaid Cymru 1, Social Democratic and Labour Party 1.