Health Minister Nelson Bascome has promised to release details from a report on whether or not workmen employed by a fellow Government MP illegally demolished asbestos-ridden buildings.

In answer to questions raised by Shadow Health Minister Kim Young, he said official comments would be released about the work at Texas Road in St.

David's -- once he had received a copy of the report.

In a written response to Mrs Young, the statement from Mr. Bascome read: "The Minister of Health and Family Services will issue a Ministerial Statement on the investigation into the procedures of the removal of the asbestos by the contractor...in due course following receipt of the report.'' The investigation was ordered after numerous complaints were made that workmen employed by Progressive Labour Party MP Arthur Pitcher were demolishing properties containing asbestos without protective face masks.

And they also claimed the dangerous material was then carried away on open trucks.

Mr. Pitcher did not receive a Government permit necessary to carry out the removal of the asbestos prior to work getting underway. By law, the Planning Department must be informed of any demolition work involving the removal of asbestos.

But it is not known whether Mr. Pitcher followed the regulations and officially informed planners of his intentions.

Mr. Pitcher was ordered to stop work on the development of the 20 affordable housing units for Bermuda Housing Corporation when the issue arose and health and environment investigators were drafted in.

The investigation began in early summer, but still, said Mrs Young, people were waiting to hear the outcome.

Earlier this year Mr. Bascome described the study as "exhaustive'' and said he was eager to get to the bottom of the allegations and find out whether or not the law was broken.

But Mrs Young said she was not happy with the response and demanded to know whether the report in its entirety would be made public. She said: "It has been going on since July. How long do these people have to wait? "We need this report to be made public so there will be a record for the future when the workers involved in the abatement and the residents of St.

David's who could show signs of disease caused by the inefficient debacle would have proof in black and white and could claim financial compensation.

"It is not good enough to sweep this under the carpet. We must provide the public with a true explanation.'' And in her Parliamentary Questions, asked on November 28, Mrs Young also asked the Health Minister if a contract or lease had been signed between the Bermuda Land Development Company and Bermuda Housing Corporation for the building of houses on Texas Road in St. David's. She was told on Friday that a lease had been agreed and was signed on September 27, but Mrs Young said she wanted to know how long it was for.

She added: "If it is over 21 years, it has to come back to the House of Assembly for approval.''