§ 18. Mr. Prenticeasked the Minister of Labour whether a study has been made by the Factory Inspectorate of the reasons for the 8½ per cent. increase in accidents on construction sites last year; what reasons have emerged; what steps he is taking to try to reverse this trend; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. HareThis percentage is based on provisional figures which have not yet been analysed. A full analysis will be published later in the year in the Report of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Factories for 1962. I am doing everything I can to increase interest and activity in safety matters.
§ Mr. PrenticeIn the study that is being given to this serious situation, will the Minister consider the frequency with which each building site or construction site is inspected? Will he study the relationship between the rate of inspections and the incidence of accidents, this being one matter which is within his control, so that he can study whether an increase in the Factory Inspectorate for this type of site would have an effect on the accident trend?
§ Mr. HareI certainly am considering every effective means. The hon. Member knows, however, that under our recent construction regulations, a big move forward will take effect this year whereby safety instructors and supervisors have to be made available where not less than 20 people are employed, as against the old regulations which did not become effective until 50 people were employed.
§ Mr. LoveysIs it not true that the building industry is providing many more safety training courses?
§ Mr. HareThat is true. It is an indication of what I said earlier. Far more general interest in this matter is, very rightly, being shown. I am glad to say that something like double the number of safety training courses are now being organised within the industry itself. This is a very good sign.