Chrysotile asbestos
In November 2010, Sir John Beddington was approached by the SoS for DWP Rt Hon Iain Duncan Smith to consider “whether there is any evidence that would justify an imminent change to the ‘international scientific consensus on the classification of asbestos’ and so allow Ministers to re-consider UK legislation. The issue under particular consideration is the classification of Chrysotile asbestos.
To address this in a short timescale Sir John approached a number of experts and stakeholders to submit relevant scientific literature and provide their personal advice on the issue. He has examined this. Attached below is a minute of a meeting Sir John held with a small select group of experts to discuss the scientific issues underlying the carcinogenicity of Chrysotile asbestos. Also attached is the subsequent letter Sir John sent to the SoS for DWP outlining Sir John’s final conclusions on this matter.
