HC Deb 05 July 1988 vol 136 c895
14. Mr. Cousins

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the additional funding sought by the Health and Safety Executive for the executive during the year 1988–89.

Mr. Nicholls

The Health and Safety Executive did not seek any additional funding at the time of the 1988–89 Supply Estimates.

Mr. Cousins

Is the Minister aware that, for example, the Hospital Physicists' Association has stated that the equivalent of one Chernobyl a year is being delivered to patients in Britain from old and poorly maintained radiation equipment? Will he therefore state clearly what the Health and Safety Executive asked for in 1989–90 to deal with this and many other pressing problems?

Mr. Nicholls

I had hoped that my initial reply to the hon. Gentleman would make it clear that the Health and Safety Executive did not seek any additional funding at the time of the 1988–89 Supply Estimates. Certainly, as far as the PESC round was concerned, it made its bid there for resources and as a result of the points that it made an extra £6.7 million was introduced—something that was very much welcomed by the chairman of the commission.