Written question asked by Elfyn Llwyd (Plaid Cymru) on Monday, 10 January 2000, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 18 January 2000. It was answered by Michael Meacher (Labour) on Tuesday, 18 January 2000 on behalf of the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions.

Dept of the Environment Transport and the Regions

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what proposals he has to require underground storage tank owners to measure the risk of corrosion failure.

Answer: Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what proposals he has to require underground storage tank owners to measure the risk of corrosion failure. [104637] Mr. Meacher: Employers are required to assess the risks to people's heath and safety in the event of a leak from an underground storage tank, and the likelihood of a tank corroding is one of the factors that should be taken into account in the assessment. The Health and Safety Executive has issued guidance on the need to provide corrosion protection where appropriate and it is included in recently published industry guidance as one of the methods to manage the risk of a leak. Measuring the actual degree of corrosion is technically difficult and can be hazardous to the workers involved. For these reasons HSE would advocate leak protection and detection methods.

Secondary information