HC Deb 20 January 1969 vol 776 cc18-9
20. Mr. Holland

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity when she will publish a Green Paper on the results of the Government survey on proposals for industrial health, safety and welfare legislation.

Mr. Fernyhough

My right hon. Friend has no present intention of publishing a Green Paper on this subject. As the hon. Member knows, a First Consultative Document, containing proposals for new safety, health and welfare legislation has already been circulated to over 500 bodies, including the T.U.C. and C.B.I.

Mr. Holland

Does not the hon. Gentleman agree it is important that there should be the fullest possible consultation with Members before the Government finalise their proposals on legislation and that it is equally important that there should be no undue delay in introducing legislation on safety? Cannot the hon. Gentleman give a firm assurance that there will be an early debate in the House on the Government's health, safety and welfare proposals?

Mr. Fernyhough

I cannot give the hon. Gentleman the answer which he would like. However, my right hon. Friend the First Secretary of State is sitting beside me, and no doubt she has heard his request.

Mr. R. Carr

Would the right hon. Lady the First Secretary take my hon. Friend's request seriously? Surely this is a subject on which the Government could well take the views of hon. Members as well as those of people outside. This is a subject on which there are no party political differences and in which the House should be interested.

Mr. Fernyhough

As the hon. Gentleman knows, the committee of hon. Members opposite who are interested in this subject have received the First Consultative Document, as have hon. Members on this side of the House. If we give widespread distribution to this document and, at the same time, note the comments made, it will tend to delay the legislation which we have in mind.

Mr. Lomas

Would my hon. Friend agree that a Green Paper on industrial health, safety and welfare would be a tremendous help to hon. Members so that we could try to persuade the Minister to understand our views on this important subject, which may help the First Secretary of State when she formulates her White Paper leading to legislation?

Mr. Fernyhough

My right hon. Friend has not said that she will issue a White Paper. This document has been liberally issued to all those whom we look upon as interested parties. Many hon. Members have received the document. They are perfectly entitled to make their comments on it. However, prolonging the discussions will only delay whatever legislation we have in mind.