Revealed: Houses of Parliament at risk from deadly asbestos

An investigation into the 170-year-old building's ageing service shafts and piping ducts said there were 'significant dangers' to everyone in the building. 

The report for the Parliamentary Works Service Directorate indicated areas of concern behind the neo-Gothic committee rooms and chambers in the Palace of Westminster.

But the authors of the study, health and safety experts Goddard Consulting said health fears were not being adequately addressed. 

Risk: Health and safety experts warn of 'significant dangers' to 'all persons' from possible exposure to asbestos in the Houses of Parliament

One of the areas involved an access door to an asbestos-contaminated shaft behind the Commons kitchen that was wedged shut with a spoon but often opened when the room became too hot. 

The report stated: 'On opening this door cold air rushed in and it was like standing in a wind tunnel.

'Asbestos fibres would readily be dispersed in the kitchen areas if the dust and debris was disturbed in the riser (service shaft) in any way.'

Asbestos was used as an insulting material in the Palace of Westminster

Regulations state it can be left in place as long as it is not disturbed and its condition is monitored.

But the team carrying out the study discovered a number of unsecured access doors.

Of the 20 samples taken last August from the debris on the floor and walls from four services shafts, 11 tested positive for 'amosite' or brown asbestos, one of the more dangerous forms of the potentially carcinogenic material.

The report said: 'We became aware of significant dangers and risks to the health and safety of persons, not only gaining access and working in the risers and ducts, but generally to all persons within the Palace of Westminster.'

An earlier draft of the report, dated December 2006, said many of the risers had airborne asbestos fibres present, warning that 'there is a serious risk of asbestos contamination of many areas and offices'.

MPs were assured in 2005 that the asbestos present throughout the whole of the original building had been safely contained following an internal survey.

During a debate last year peers were told that 200 asbestos sites had been identified.

But tests carried out at more than 40 of these sites showed levels below the detectable fibre count limit.

A spokesman for the House of Commons said: 'The letter from Goddard Consulting drew our attention to the fact that we had not implemented all the recommendations within their 2005 report.

'That is correct. However, this is a complex area where professional opinion may differ.

'There are a  number of recommendations where we felt alternative ways of managing the hazard would be equally effective and the problems were addressed accordingly.'       

Asbestos is the single greatest cause of work-related deaths in the UK, according to the Health and Safety Executive.