§ 21. Mr. Peter Archerasked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity if he intends to reintroduce the Employed Persons (Health and Safety) Bill.
§ Mr. Dudley SmithWe are giving urgent consideration to the proposals in Part I of the previous Bill to establish an Employment Medical Advisory Service. So far as Part II is concerned my right hon. Friend is to start further consultations with the C.B.I., the T.U.C. and the nationalised industries as to the best way of getting improved arrangements for joint consultation on safety matters.
§ Mr. ArcherDoes the hon. Member recollect that in 1927, when this was first suggested, it was announced that the voluntary system would be given another chance, but that since that time factory accidents have risen from 148,000 a year to over 300,000 a year? How many more consultations are necessary and how much more blood must pass under the bridge before something is done?
§ Mr. SmithAs the hon. Member knows, there has been an enormous improvement since 1927, and even over the past few years. As the hon. Member heard me say in the Second Reading debate on the Bill, there are practical difficulties to the implementation of Part II, but we shall look at them and see what is the best way to get more effective consultation.