HC Deb 24 January 1984 vol 52 cc759-60
11. Mr. Fatchett

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he is satisfied with the current level of penalties against employers who are found to be in breach of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act.

Mr. Gummer

I certainly share the widespread concern on this matter. My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department intends to make an order during the coming months which will, among other things, raise the maximum level of fines available on summary conviction under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act.

Mr. Fatchett

I am grateful to the Minister for his response and his acknowledgement that the current level of fines is too low. Will he take steps to increase staffing in the Health and Safety Executive so that not just the fines will be increased but enforcement can take place? It is crucial that the HSE has the manpower to ensure that the legislation is enforced so that the courts can take the necessary action.

Mr. Gummer

The Government believe in the importance of such action. That is why we have increased the resources made available to the Health and Safety Executive.

Mr. Rowe

Can my hon. Friend give the House any information about the steps that he proposes to take to reduce the menace of noise at work?

Mr. Gummer

My hon. Friend might be pleased to know that today we are announcing another programme to enforce more clearly the regulations that arise from the code of practice on noise at work. The Factory Inspectorate will increase the attention that it pays to noise, which is now one of the major causes of industrial injury. We hope, as a result of this major programme, to bring to people's attention the dangers to their hearing and the penalties that are available under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. We hope to save more people from the menace of deafness.

Mr. Eastham

Is the Minister not ashamed to note that there are now 145 fewer factory inspectors than there were in 1979? Is he not also ashamed to note that the number of accidents is increasing because of the Government's policies? More people are being killed and maimed in factories.

Mr. Gummer

I should be ashamed to ask the hon. Gentleman's question and fail to mention that the accident record has been improving. The hon. Gentleman's question was disgraceful. He should look at the figures. I am happy to go through them one by one with him. With the introduction of modern computerised techniques we are able to use the work of devoted factory and other inspectors much more effectively. We have increased the resources made available to the Health and Safety Executive. That is an improvement on what the Labour Government did.

Mr. John Evans

Will the Minister take this opportunity to inform the House that far more days are lost in British industry because of industrial injuries and sickness than are ever lost through industrial disputes? If the Government's anxiety about loss of working time in industry is to be taken seriously, will the Minister take this opportunity to instruct the Health and Safety Executive to employ far more factory inspectors, who do an excellent job of persuading recalcitrant employers to adopt reasonable safety standards for the benefit of their work force?

Mr. Gummer

The Government are worried about the number of days lost through accidents and injuries at work and by the number of days lost through industrial unrest. We are trying to deal with both. To deal with the second we are taking an excellent Bill through Parliament. We have found that the Opposition have been so incompetent at opposing it that they have not yet found one reason for opposing any part of it.