Asked by: Imran Hussain (Labour - Bradford East)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many inspections relating to asbestos the Health and Safety Executive conducted in each year since 2010.
Answered by Mims Davies - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
HSE grants licences to a small number of companies which carry out high risk types of asbestos work. HSE then visits a sample of these sites to ensure standards are met safely.
Historically HSE has only conducted inspections of organisations who hold a HSE granted asbestos
licence. Inspections of other, non-licenced work with asbestos such as cleaning up small quantities of asbestos-containing materials or drilling holes into asbestos insulating boards were not routinely recorded. Following the Work and Pensions Committee inquiry into HSE’s approach to asbestos management, non-licensed asbestos inspection activity will be recorded separately for 2023/24. Further information is available on HSE’s website here.
The table below show the number of inspections conducted by HSE of organisations holding an asbestos licence each year from 2010:
Year* | Number of inspections |
2010 - 2011 | 1873 |
2011 - 2012 | 1755 |
2012 - 2013 | 1522 |
2013 - 2014 | 1275 |
2014 - 2015 | 1065 |
2015 - 2016 | 1109 |
2016 - 2017 | 1028 |
2017 - 2018 | 1052 |
2018 - 2019 | 1001 |
2019 - 2020 | 907 |
2020 - 2021 | 893 |
2021 - 2022 | 870 |
2022 - 2023 | 882** |
*HSE Work Year from 1 April to 31 March - **Provisional
Since 2010, the number of license holders has reduced by 30% along with a 29% reduction in the jobs they carry out, consequently requiring less inspections. HSE also moved to a centralised, electronic system to facilitate improved targeting to asbestos inspections during this period ensuring the right number of inspections to each licensee.
Asked by: Imran Hussain (Labour - Bradford East)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will provide a breakdown of the number of people in the UK who have been diagnosed with asbestos-related diseases after exposure at work for each year since 2010.
Answered by Mims Davies - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The number of people in the UK who have been diagnosed with asbestos-related diseases due to exposure at work is not available as the data is not captured in this way.
However, the Department for Work and Pensions and the Health and Safety Executive collect statistics for deaths and new cases assessed for Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (IIDB) in Great Britain. These statistics can give an indication of the scale of annual new cases of asbestos-related disease, the majority of which are attributable to past exposures at work.
Asbestos-related diseases in Great Britain, deaths and new cases assessed for Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (IIDB), 2010 onwards, Great Britain
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Mesothelioma, deaths | 2360 | 2312 | 2549 | 2560 | 2522 | 2547 | 2606 | 2541 | 2453 | 2404 | 2544 | N/A |
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Mesothelioma, new cases assessed for IIDB | 1895 | 1985 | 2125 | 2145 | 2215 | 2130 | 2170 | 2025 | 2230 | 2025 | 1910 | 1920 |
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Asbestosis, deaths | 414 | 429 | 464 | 483 | 436 | 468 | 502 | 519 | 507 | 499 | 530 | N/A |
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Asbestosis, new cases assessed for IIDB | 1015 | 725 | 980 | 900 | 985 | 1175 | 1050 | 955 | 950 | 905 | 275 | 675 |
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Asbestos-related lung cancer new cases assessed for IIDB | 305 | 315 | 250 | 285 | 285 | 305 | 240 | 180 | 200 | 240 | 185 | 180 |
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Pleural thickening, new cases assessed for IIDB | 505 | 440 | 460 | 430 | 425 | 430 | 370 | 450 | 540 | 510 | 185 | 460 |
Note. Figures for deaths in 2021 are not yet available since for some deaths there can be a substantial delay in their registration beyond the year in which the death occurred.
Asked by: Imran Hussain (Labour - Bradford East)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many employers have been fined for failing to protect their employees from asbestos exposure in each year since 2010.
Answered by Mims Davies - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The risks from asbestos are to both employees and non-employees so the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) does not separate the two. Asbestos- specific offences may also be grouped together with other offences and prosecuted under the general provisions of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. The numbers of fines imposed only under the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006 and 2012 for each year from 2010 are set out below but other penalties are available and used by the courts:
Year* | Number of fines |
2010 - 2011 | 20 |
2011 - 2012 | 21 |
2012 - 2013 | 21 |
2013 - 2014 | 15 |
2014 - 2015 | 13 |
2015 - 2016 | 20 |
2016 - 2017 | 5 |
2017 - 2018 | 11 |
2018 - 2019 | 16 |
2019 - 2020 | 7 |
2020 - 2021 | 0 |
2021 - 2022 | 4 |
2022 - 2023 | 2 |
Asked by: Imran Hussain (Labour - Bradford East)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if their Department will publish an Ethnicity Pay Gap Report for financial year 2023-24 in line with the Ethnicity Pay Gap reporting guidance for employers published on 17 April 2023.
Answered by Mims Davies - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
We are currently considering the best way to approach Ethnicity Pay Gap reporting in the Civil Service.
DWP is working with Civil Service HR colleagues and other government departments to work through the details of the Ethnicity Pay Gap reporting guidance that was published on 17 April 2023.
In line with Gender Pay Gap Reporting, the Civil Service is looking to develop a consistent methodology to be used in departments to produce the data.
The outcomes of this development work will inform whether we are able to publish a report for 2023/2024.
Asked by: Imran Hussain (Labour - Bradford East)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill, whether the Government plans to retain the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012.
Answered by Mims Davies - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
An amendment was tabled on 10 May 2023 to replace the current sunset clause in the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill with a schedule of all the retained EU laws (REUL) that government departments intend to revoke by the end of 2023. The schedule includes REUL identified for revocation by the Health and Safety Executive and any remaining REUL will be retained including the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012. This is subject to the amendment being passed.
Asked by: Imran Hussain (Labour - Bradford East)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department is taking to ensure employers in high-risk industries comply with regulations to manage and remove asbestos.
Answered by Mims Davies - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
In Great Britain the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 (CAR) are in place to protect workers from asbestos exposure. These regulations require dutyholders to assess whether asbestos is present in their buildings, the condition it is in and to draw up a plan to manage the risk associated with asbestos including removal if it cannot be safely managed in place.
Dutyholders must not undertake any work to remove, or that is liable to disturb, asbestos unless they have assessed the presence and condition of any Asbestos Containing Material (ACM), identified the risks of exposure to asbestos and prepared a written plan of work detailing the activity and controls to protect workers.
Anyone liable to disturb asbestos during their work must have received the correct level of information, instruction, and training to enable them to carry out their work safely, competently and without risk to themselves or others. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) does not have any plans to introduce additional training for dutyholders.
The Second Post Implementation Review (PIR) for CAR found that the regulations are achieving their intended objectives and it is not necessary to amend them or introduce any additional legislation.
For work with ACM’s which is considered high risk HSE operates a licensing regime to ensure that those carrying out such work demonstrate that they are competent and have current knowledge to protect the health & safety of everyone involved with and affected by the work.
HSE are actively engaging with duty holders and other stakeholders to raise awareness of the legal requirements and ensure standards and competence are maintained.
Asked by: Imran Hussain (Labour - Bradford East)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether he plans to introduce additional training and resources to help employers and workers manage the risk of asbestos exposure.
Answered by Mims Davies - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
In Great Britain the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 (CAR) are in place to protect workers from asbestos exposure. These regulations require dutyholders to assess whether asbestos is present in their buildings, the condition it is in and to draw up a plan to manage the risk associated with asbestos including removal if it cannot be safely managed in place.
Dutyholders must not undertake any work to remove, or that is liable to disturb, asbestos unless they have assessed the presence and condition of any Asbestos Containing Material (ACM), identified the risks of exposure to asbestos and prepared a written plan of work detailing the activity and controls to protect workers.
Anyone liable to disturb asbestos during their work must have received the correct level of information, instruction, and training to enable them to carry out their work safely, competently and without risk to themselves or others. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) does not have any plans to introduce additional training for dutyholders.
The Second Post Implementation Review (PIR) for CAR found that the regulations are achieving their intended objectives and it is not necessary to amend them or introduce any additional legislation.
For work with ACM’s which is considered high risk HSE operates a licensing regime to ensure that those carrying out such work demonstrate that they are competent and have current knowledge to protect the health & safety of everyone involved with and affected by the work.
HSE are actively engaging with duty holders and other stakeholders to raise awareness of the legal requirements and ensure standards and competence are maintained.
Asked by: Imran Hussain (Labour - Bradford East)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether he plans to introduce (a) legislation or (b) regulations to protect workers from asbestos exposure.
Answered by Mims Davies - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
In Great Britain the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 (CAR) are in place to protect workers from asbestos exposure. These regulations require dutyholders to assess whether asbestos is present in their buildings, the condition it is in and to draw up a plan to manage the risk associated with asbestos including removal if it cannot be safely managed in place.
Dutyholders must not undertake any work to remove, or that is liable to disturb, asbestos unless they have assessed the presence and condition of any Asbestos Containing Material (ACM), identified the risks of exposure to asbestos and prepared a written plan of work detailing the activity and controls to protect workers.
Anyone liable to disturb asbestos during their work must have received the correct level of information, instruction, and training to enable them to carry out their work safely, competently and without risk to themselves or others. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) does not have any plans to introduce additional training for dutyholders.
The Second Post Implementation Review (PIR) for CAR found that the regulations are achieving their intended objectives and it is not necessary to amend them or introduce any additional legislation.
For work with ACM’s which is considered high risk HSE operates a licensing regime to ensure that those carrying out such work demonstrate that they are competent and have current knowledge to protect the health & safety of everyone involved with and affected by the work.
HSE are actively engaging with duty holders and other stakeholders to raise awareness of the legal requirements and ensure standards and competence are maintained.
Asked by: Imran Hussain (Labour - Bradford East)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many licenses have been revoked by the Health and Safety Executive’s Asbestos Licensing Unit in each year since 2010.
Answered by Mims Davies - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) uses a range of regulatory approaches to ensure compliance with licensing. Licenses are revoked in the most serious cases, but licences can also be refused at re-application; additional conditions added; or additional inspections carried out to more closely monitor a licensee.
The statistics for asbestos licences revoked each year from 2010 are as follows:
Year* | Number of revocations |
2010 - 2011 | 2 |
2011 - 2012 | 0 |
2012 - 2013 | 1 |
2013 - 2014 | 1 |
2014 - 2015 | 0 |
2015 - 2016 | 0 |
2016 - 2017 | 0 |
2017 - 2018 | 0 |
2018 - 2019 | 1 |
2019 - 2020 | 0 |
2020 - 2021 | 0 |
2021 - 2022 | 0 |
2022 - 2023 | 1 |
Asked by: Imran Hussain (Labour - Bradford East)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill, what representations he has received from external organisations on the potential merits of retaining the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012.
Answered by Mims Davies - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has not received any specific representations from external organisations on the potential merits of retaining the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012, however they have been mentioned as a set of regulations that should be retained in several pieces of correspondence and parliamentary questions.
Officials from HSE are actively engaging with a wide range of stakeholders as part of their day-to-day business, covering many matters. HSE has good working knowledge to inform any decisions they need to make in relation to their approach with the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill (REUL Bill). If required, HSE has various established channels of communication with stakeholders to obtain supplementary information.
HSE has discussed and agreed its plans for retained EU Law (REUL) with DWP Ministers. An amendment was tabled on 10 May 2023 to replace the current sunset clause in the REUL Bill with a schedule of all the REUL that government departments intend to revoke by the end of 2023. The schedule includes REUL identified for revocation by HSE and any remaining REUL will be retained including the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012. This is subject to the amendment being passed.