Mr Major’s Written Parliamentary Answer on Asbestos – 24 November 1986

Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Asbestos on 24th November 1986.

Mr. Dobson Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what information he has as to the ability of optical microscopes to find asbestos fibres as distinct from large asbestos bodies.

Mr. Major Asbestos bodies and a proportion of asbestos fibres can readily be identified by the use of an optical microscope. Fine uncoated fibres are difficult to find by this method because their diameters are often at or below the limits detectable by the optical microscope.