4. Will the Commissioner make a statement on the arrangements for asbestos management on the Assembly estate? OAQ52003

Hold on a second. Thank you for your question. The Assembly Commission fully complies with the regulations for the management and control of asbestos, and holds an asbestos register for all buildings within its estate. Detailed asbestos surveys and inspections were undertaken in 2002 and 2014, and the asbestos register confirms that no asbestos materials are present within the estate. The register is reviewed annually and consulted in advance of the commencement of relevant works or projects.  

Okay, thank you for that answer, because obviously you are aware that there are some 3,000 different asbestos-containing materials—so-called ACMs—in use across the country, and I chair the cross-party group on asbestos, primarily looking at asbestos in schools and other public buildings. So, I thought it was incumbent on me to make sure that we're doing what we should be doing on our own estate if we're looking at this in other areas. So, I'm pleased to hear what you say about the register; we need to be managing that risk properly. That risk does require that detailed procedures to ensure safe working practices are set out in asbestos management plans, and I'm not sure if that's what you were talking about, but perhaps if that is, you could just confirm that that is the case, and that we do have those management plans in place. 

I'd just like to say to Dawn that the asbestos register is reviewed annually as part of statutory compliance and procedures, so I think that does answer your question there. The detailed inspections and surveys that are carried out, the latest in 2014, there are no asbestos-containing materials that have been identified in either Tŷ Hywel or in the Senedd, or with any construction materials as well. Thank you. 

Thank you very much.