asked the Minister for Trade if he will introduce legislation to require all consumer products containing asbestos to be clearly labelled.

The Council of the European Communities is considering a draft directive on the marketing and use of asbestos, which includes provision for the compulsory labelling of consumer products containing asbestos supplied in the member States. If adopted in the form now generally agreed, the labelling will closely resemble that already provided voluntarily by the United Kingdom asbestos industry. When the directive is adopted it will be implemented by safety regulations in the United Kingdom.