TfL Ref: FOI-1515-2425

Thank you for your request which we received on 9 August 2024. You asked for information about asbestos. 

Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Environmental Information Regulations and our information access policy.  I can confirm that we hold some of the information you require. Youi asked: 

1) A summary of your centralised asbestos register. This would be - how many ACMs still remain, the breakdown by risk profile of these ACMs, and (depending on how the register is constructed) how many have been completely removed. 

Please find the attached files from our asset register, for all known instances of asbestos within station and track locations on the London Underground network. There are currently 21,468 live instances of known asbestos containing materials (ACMs).  Note that there are two separate documents for each line, one for stations and one for track.

Regarding a breakdown by risk profile, in view of the way our data is stored and the sheer volume of information, this would be very difficult for us to obtain. Given the extent of the information you are looking for, we are applying Regulation 12(4)(b) to this part of your request as we believe that it is ‘manifestly unreasonable’ because providing this level of breakdown would impose unreasonable costs on us and require an unreasonable diversion of resources. 

The use of this exception is subject to a public interest test, which requires us to consider whether the public interest in applying the exception outweighs the public interest in disclosure. We recognise that the release of information would promote accountability and transparency in public services and also help address your particular concerns about this issue. However, the time it would take to provide the information you have requested would divert a disproportionate amount of our resources from its core functions and on balance we consider that the public interest currently favours the use of the exception. 

However, I can confirm that our ACMs are re-inspected on a regular basis and the frequency of re-inspection is between 1 and 3 years, with higher risk locations inspected more frequently than those with a lower risk profile.

2) If no centralised register/database exists and the information resides instead in numerous different registers, it would be acceptable to use the summary from your latest asbestos audit/internal report to cover the questions raised in point 1.

As above. 

3) How many claims have been made against TFL for asbestos exposure (all recorded claims you have, from when your records begin, or since 2000, depending on how you record the information).

We only hold asbestos related claims going back to August 2002, as the contract was held with a different company before then and it would be difficult to obtain this information prior to that date. This would further increase the processing time required to fulfil your request.

Between August 2002 and 31 July 2024, there were 146 claims linked to asbestos inhalation.

4) And if applicable, how much has been paid out in compensation for asbestos exposure?

The total amount paid (including our own legal fees) between August 2002 and 31 July 2024 was £7,034,813.25.

Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal as well as information on copyright and what to do if you would like to re-use any of the information we have disclosed. 

Yours sincerely

Eva Hextall 

FOI Case Management Team

General Counsel

Transport for London