HC Deb 19 April 1994 vol 241 cc734-5
12. Mr. Barron

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what discussions he has had with the Health and Safety Executive regarding its prosecution policy in cases of death at work; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. David Hunt

My Department is in regular contact with the Health and Safety Executive and I fully endorse its approach to enforcement.

Mr. Barron

Does the Minister accept that the publication "The Perfect Crime" by the West Midlands Health and Safety Advice Centre clearly shows the absence of active policing of death at work and of prosecution of bad employers who cause death at work? Given the Law Commission's statement last week that it is considering a change in the law on prosecuting bad employers who cause death at work, will the Government stop the cuts in the Health and Safety Executive and prosecute more bad employers, who kill more people than are killed on Britain's roads?

Mr. Hunt

I have every confidence in the Health and Safety Executive's prosecution policy. Before entering the Chamber, I checked on the matter and understand that in the past 18 months, the executive has referred 17 possible cases of manslaughter to the Crown Prosecution Service. We should be proud that the rate of fatal and non-fatal accidents in this country is falling, and that we have one of the best health and safety records in the world.