Asbestos-related diseases and asbestos removal: FOI release

FOI reference: FOI/17/01594
Date received: 10 July 2017
Date responded: 4 August 2017

Information requested

1. What was the cost to remove "ASBESTOS from BUTE HOUSE"

2. How many SCHOOLS may contain ASBESTOS

3. What and is there ASBESTOS IN All PUBLIC BUILDINGS (town halls , community centres, libraries, swimming baths , also any other types of PUBLIC BUILDINGS ETC.AND HAVE THEY BEEN CHECKED

4. What is the total "COSTS to ALL the LOCAL AUTHORITIES in SCOTLAND" to handle and get rid of all the Asbestos that they find

5. a. How many people have been admitted to hospitals since the year JAN/2010 to April 2017 through out the whole of SCOTLAND with ASBESTOS related ILLNESSES /DISEASES

5. b. ALSO HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH THESE CONDITIONS

6. a. What is the TOTAL death rates for all these people from JAN/2010 till APRIL 2017

6. b. Also how many were Males and FEMALES dates JAN/2010 to April 2017

7. CAN you confirm that all new buildings BUILT since the year 2000. are all asbestos free and have they been checked out and that they meet all the relevant building regulations specifications

8. a. WHY IS THERE NOT A SPECIALIZED HOSPITAL for the Centre of EXCELLENCE IN LUNG CONDITIONS MAY I SUGGEST THE

8. b. QUEEN ELIZABETH UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL AS THEY HAVE ALL THE CORRECT SPECIALIST AND EQUIPMENT IT WOULD BE A VERY PROGRESSIVE WAY FORWARD ALSO ALL THE RESEARCH and COLLECTION OF DATA and INFORMATION WOULD BE INVALUABLE IN THE RESEARCH OF TREATMENT

Response

1. What was the cost to remove asbestos from Bute House? I refer to the letter to you dated 13 April 2016 with the reference of FOI/16/00528 which covers this request.

2. How many schools may contain asbestos?

3. What and is there asbestos in all public buildings town halls, community centers, libraries, swimming baths, also any other types of public buildings etc. and have they been checked?

4. What is the total costs to all the local authorities in Scotland to handle and get rid of all the Asbestos that they find?

7. Can you confirm that all new buildings built since the year 2000 are all asbestos free and have they been checked out and that they meet all the relevant building regulations specifications?

Response to Questions 2, 3, 4 and 7.

The Scottish Government does not hold the information.

This is a formal notice under section 17(1) of FOISA that the Scottish Government does not have the information you have requested.

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the Scottish Government does not have the information you have requested because health and safety legislation is not devolved to the Scottish Government.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has UK wide responsibility for enforcement of the related legislation and regulations, including compliance with those relating to the management of risks arising from asbestos. Under the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012, responsibility for the control and management of asbestos in local authority schools rests with the local authority, as duty holder.

The HSE is responsible for ensuring that duty holders, such as local authorities, comply with the legislation in place to control the risks associated with asbestos and may offer duty holders information and advice or warn them that, in their opinion, they are failing to comply with the law. Where an authority does not comply, it is for HSE to determine, in accordance with HSE enforcement policies, what enforcement action is appropriate and proportional to health and safety risk and the seriousness of the breach.

Building regulations contains provisions for construction materials to be durable and fit for their intended purpose, but only in the context of the requirements of building regulations. Local authorities are responsible for administering the building standards system for their own geographic area and carrying out independent checks of the design and construction of new buildings (building warrant and completion certificate processes). A local authority must not grant a building warrant unless it is satisfied that the proposed work will be carried in accordance with building regulations and that nothing in any plan, specification or other information indicates the building will fail to comply with building regulations. A local authority must not accept a completion certificate (which allows a new building to be occupied) unless, after it has undertaken reasonable inquiry, it is satisfied as to the matters certified in the certificate. Local authorities are responsible for maintaining a building standards register for their own area and for the enforcement of building regulations.

You may wish to contact individual local authorities who will be able to help you. The contact details for each local authority in Scotland can be found at: www.cosla.gov.uk/councils.

5. a) how many people have been admitted to hospitals since the year Jan 2010 to April 2017 throughout the whole of Scotland with asbestos related illnesses /diseases

b. also how many people have been diagnosed with these conditions

6. a. What is the total death rates for all these people from Jan 2010 till April 2017

b. also how many were males and females dates Jan 2010 to April 2017

Response to Questions 5 and 6

The Scottish Government does not hold the information.

Section 17(1) of FOISA (information not held) requires the Scottish Government to notify you if it does not have the information you requested.

The statistics you have requested are not held by the Scottish Government. However, Information Services Division (ISD), a division of National Services Scotland, which provides health information, health intelligence, statistical services and advice to NHSScotland, may hold some of the information you have requested. You may wish to contact the ISD secondary care team who will be best placed to assist you with your queries: NSS.isdSCT@nhs.net.

8. a. why is there not a specialised hospital for the centre of excellence in lung conditions may I suggest the

b. Queen Elizabeth university hospital as they have all the correct specialist and equipment it would be a very progressive way forward also all the research and collection of data and information would be invaluable in the research of treatment

The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that people in Scotland can access clinically appropriate, safe and effective person-centred healthcare treatment and support. Our role is to provide frameworks, policies, and resources to enable Scotland's NHS Boards to deliver the healthcare services that meet the needs of their local populations. In this context, Scotland's NHS Boards have responsibility for planning and providing healthcare services, including specialist services, whilst taking into account national guidance, local service needs and priorities for investment.

In relation to lung conditions, NHSScotland has excellent respiratory services in Health Boards across the country as well as national expertise in the major teaching hospitals, linked to academic expertise at our Scottish Universities.

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