HC Deb 16 March 1960 vol 619 cc1283-4
19. Sir S. Storey

asked the Minister of Transport if, when making grants to local authorities towards the cost of civil engineering projects, he will make it a condition of the grant that the local authority will require the contractor for the project to appoint a fully qualified officer responsible for the safety of the workers employed thereon.

Mr. Marples

I do not think it would be appropriate to make this a condition of grant. The safety of workers on such projects will be covered by the new regulations under the Factories Acts which my right hon. Friend, the Minister of Labour, is proposing to make shortly.

Sir S. Storey

While the proposed extension of the Factories Acts to constructional engineering is a step in the right direction, does not my right hon. Friend feel that on some major projects a whole-time safety officer is needed? Does he not think that if such an officer had been appointed earlier for the Barton Bridge, we might have avoided two accidents and saved six lives?

Mr. Marples

I am certain that local authorities concerned will bear in mind the recommendations of the jury at the recent Barton Bridge inquest to provide constant supervision by a competent representative of the contractor who must be approved by the highways authority engineer, and it is on that person that responsibility must rest.

Sir S. Storey

If that is so, why does not my hon. Friend make it a condition of giving a grant?

Mr. Ellis Smith

In view of the years of delay in issuing satisfactory regulations, will the right hon. Gentleman undertake to consult his right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour with a view to dealing with this as a matter of extreme urgency?

Mr. Marples

I am already in touch with my right hon. Friend. In view of my experience in private life before I came into public life, I can assure the hon. Member that I have the matter very much in mind.