Welsh Communities Minister Lesley Griffiths has written to councils and registered social landlords urging them to take action on the dangers of asbestos in housing.

Following meetings with union UCATT, Ms Griffiths has agreed that the issue must be addressed 'as a matter of urgency'.

In addition, the topic will be partially tackled as part of legislation planned for later this year.

The minister outlined three key topics to be addressed:

• Crucial information on asbestos to be passed to workers and contractors doing maintenance work on a tenant's property for work begins.

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• Caution over relying on sample asbestos surveys which are unreliable.

• A fully trained workforce which can identify asbestos and act accordingly.

In her letter, Ms Griffiths said: "I would like to emphasise the need for action to minimise the risk for both tenants and for those who work in the repair and maintenance of social housing. Where contractors are used by a social landlord for improvement works, it is important for information from surveys and the asbestos register to be passed to the contractor in a timely and accurate manner."

UCATT Regional Secretary for Wales, Nick Blundell, welcomed the Welsh Government's intervention.

"If you don't take asbestos seriously, more and more people will continue to die from exposure," he said.

"Our members in the social housing maintenance sector face this danger on a daily basis. Poor and inadequate surveying can leave maintenance workers up to their eyeballs in asbestos dust – without any protection."

(LM/MH)