Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment has been made of the effectiveness of the use of barrier sheaths to help mitigate creosote leaching in telecommunications infrastructure.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is undertaking a detailed assessment to determine whether the approval of the active substance creosote should be renewed as a wood preservative under the Great Britain Biocidal Products Regulation. The assessment involves consideration of the risks posed by the use of creosote, potential risk mitigation measures and whether suitable and sufficient alternatives are available. It is informed by a public consultation that ran between 24 September and 24 November 2024 to seek evidence on potential alternatives.

Any evidence relating to barrier sheaths submitted during the consultation is being considered as part of the assessment.