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collections

Papers and correspondence (including telephone memoranda) re Westminster Council's management of the Elgin Estate (Chantry and Hermes Points), in particular whether the Council took appropriate action in response to information about asbestos at the blocks and complaints from people who lived in them. Includes

  • documentation of local campaigning subsequent to the Barratt report (see below), including a discussion between former tenants and Dr Julian Peto, February 1997
  • copy of John Barratt (24 January 1996) ‘Report of a documentary review into the use by Westminster Council of Hermes and Chantry Points, Elgin Estate, Westminster, for housing purposes, given the presence of asbestos' ("Barratt Report")
  • copies of Westminster Council papers (including minutes), relating to the management of the estate 1983-1991
  • copies of 'WECH [Walterton & Elgin Community Homes] News', 1996 and earlier

The Barratt report coincided with a press conference to launch the 'Asbestos hazards handbook', at which Nancy Tait was one of five invited speakers.

Correspondence with and papers and correspondence relating to Sir Richard Doll and his research.
Richard Doll was a doctor and pioneering researcher with a particular focus on lung cancer. Doll published the first research showing the link between smoking and lung cancer. Nancy Tait and SPAID did not always agree with Doll's research findings and sometimes disputed his calculations in relation to the environmental risk from asbestos.

Papers include:
-copies of Richard Doll articles and research
-copies of some articles by Richard Doll and Julian Peto
-reports and papers about SPAID's comments on Doll's research
-correspondence and copies of correspondence with Richard Doll about his research
-handwritten notes commenting on Doll's research
-statistics on asbestos-related deaths
-copies of press clippings mentioning Doll's research
-correspondence about interactions with Richard Doll
-a transcript of 'smoke gets in your eyes' 'Brass Tacks' BBC programme, 17 November 1987
-correspondence about US and Canadian research on asbestos
-correspondence with newspapers about misleading articles
-correspondence contradicting Doll's research into asbestos in break linings
-correspondence discussing the shortcomings of Doll and Peto's report: 'Asbestos- Effects on Health of Exposure to Asbestos- the Risk from Asbestos in Buildings', 1985.