Safety, Health and Welfare

HC Deb 13 May 1968 vol 764 cc838-40

8. Mr. Holland

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity how many of the bodies receiving the first consultative document on proposals for new safety, health and welfare legislation have now replied to this; and how many more replies are still outstanding.

Mr. Fernyhough

286 bodies have replied and a further 34 have intimated that they will be doing so shortly. No replies have been received from the remaining 220.

Mr. Holland

In view of the fact that Factory Acts usually have a life of about 10 years, will be hon. Gentleman and his right hon. Friend give the fullest possible weight to the views and advice of all those in industry who have to implement the Acts?

Mr. Fernyhough

I can readily give that assurance. We are having very detailed discussion with both the C.B.I. and the T.U.C., who are primarily concerned in this new legislation. We want to expedite those discussions, but their views will be taken fully into consideration.

Mr. Archer

Is my hon. Friend aware that those of us who asked for copies of this document were immediately supplied with copies and received every courtesy from the Department, but we had to learn of the existence of the document from sources outside this House? Will he have a copy placed in the Library, where all hon. Members can see it?

Mr. Fernyhough

Certainly. Anyone who wants a copy can see me later outside the Chamber and I will gladly give him one. We sent copies to all employers' organisations, all the trade unions, and all other interested bodies. Every hon. Member who has applied, as my hon. Friend did, has been given a copy and everyone who wants one can readily have one.

Mr. R. Carr

Will the hon. Gentleman answer the question his hon. Friend asked? Are Members of Parliament and Parliament itself not interested in this subject? Should we not have a copy placed in the Library?

Mr. Fernyhough

Of course. I have said that not only can one be placed in the Library, but anyone who wants to have a personal copy can have one.

9. Mr. Holland

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity when she expects to be in a position to introduce new comprehensive legislation in the field of industrial safety, health and welfare.

Mrs. Castle

I am not yet able to say, though I am anxious to press ahead with this legislation as soon as the complexity of the subject and the Parliamentary time-table allow.

Mr. Holland

Recognising that there are a number of hon. Members, on both sides of the House, who have some know-lodge of these matters and a great interest in them, will the right hon. Lady facilitate discussion by hon. Members through the medium of a White Paper before final arrangements are made for legislation and final details are worked out, but after the present stage of getting industrial reaction?

Mrs. Castle

I am sure the hon. Member realises that the consultations are going to take a considerable time and the House would wish them to be efficient consultations, but I will bear in mind the point he made about a White Paper being issued later.

Mr. Orme

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the previous reply by her hon. Friend about dissemination of this information was far from satisfactory? This proposed legislation will affect millions of workers and the 440 organisations which have been circulated are mainly employers' organisations. Should there not be more consultation with industry and Members of Parliament before the Government bring forward such legislation?

Mrs. Castle

As I said in my reply, we have not yet reached a point at which we can indicate the timing of the legislation, and there is time for discussions with Members of Parliament to take place.

Dr. John Dunwoody

Would not my right hon. Friend agree that much more time is lost in industry from preventable industrial injuries and industrial illnesses than through industrial disputes, and that it is very much in the interest of our nation that we should have coherent and comprehensive occupational health service?

Mrs. Castle

In reply to the first part of my hon. Friend's question I answer, yes, very readily. This is why we are pressing ahead urgently with the examination of this whole field.