HC Deb 24 February 1969 vol 778 cc1077-8
61. Mr. Gordon Walker

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity if she will seek to amend the Offices, Shops and Railway Premises Act, 1963, so as to make provision for better safety precautions in regard to the use of forklift trucks in factories, in the light of the evidence sent to her by the right hon. Member for Leyton.

Mr. Fernyhough

This question is being dealt with in the current revision of safety, health and welfare legislation.

Mr. Gordon Walker

Does "dealt with" mean that the present state of affairs will be altered? Is my hon. Friend aware that a constituent of mine was killed, and that there is no way at the moment of putting right the kind of accident which led to his death?

Mr. Fernyhough

Yes, it is our intention in the safety, health and welfare legislation to include provisions relating

Mr. Griffiths

I thank my hon. Friend for that reply. Would it be asking too much to ask that my right hon. Friend should get in touch with the President of the Board of Trade, because in the two areas I have mentioned the average is much higher than the national average?

Mr. Fernyhough

I accept the last part of my hon. Friend's supplementary question, and I will certainly draw the attention of my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade to what he has had to say.

Following is the information:

to the construction and maintenance of forklift trucks, the prevention of danger from slipping loads, and the certification of the safe working load, and the training of drivers.