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Hazardous Materials (Departmental Buildings)

Mr. Martyn Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment his Department has made of the presence of (a) hazardous materials and (b) ozone-depleting substances within those buildings which his Department occupies; and if he will make a statement. [16287]

Mr. Arbuthnot: The assessment and recording of hazardous substances used in construction is covered by the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 1995. The Construction (Design and

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Management) Regulations 1994 requires information regarding any hazardous materials incorporated within the fabric of any new structure to be recorded in the health and safety file for that structure.

The presence of any hazardous materials, such as asbestos, in existing buildings is recorded in the appropriate register its location is noted and its condition monitored.

Measures are in place to restrict the use of ozone-depleting substances in the construction of MOD buildings.

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