§ 50. Mr. William Palingasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will introduce regulations to provide that, in the construction of new buildings and, where possible, in existing buildings, provision shall be made for the use by window cleaners of-appropriate safety equipment.
§ Mr. SandysI am afraid I have no power to make such regulations.
§ Mr. PalingIs the Minister aware of recent court and Court of Appeal decisions on the question of window cleaning and accidents arising therefrom? I know that this matter has received the attention of the Minister of Labour. In view of the court decisions, will the right hon. Gentleman have a talk with the Minister of Labour to see whether there is some way of meeting this suggestion, so that accidents may be prevented?
§ Mr. SandysI have great respect for people who can stand on narrow ledges high up on buildings without getting vertigo, and I should like to do anything I can to help them, but I have no powers to make the regulations which the hon. Member proposes.