§ 2.40 p.m.
§ Lord CROOKMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the second Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will arrange for display in the Library of the House of the four posters just published showing the 23 standardised safety signs for EEC countries adopted with effect from 1st January 1981.
§ Lord CROOKMy Lords, I thank the noble Earl.
§ Lord BROCKWAYMy Lords, in view of the closing of the Horseferry Road Centre, may I ask the Minister whether his department will send copies of the posters to the many safety committees of local authorities in this country? Secondly, will he collate the posters which they are issuing—I am thinking particularly of Camden Council—which are very striking and which may be used more widely in this country and in Europe?
The Earl of GOWRIEI do not think there is any difficulty in publicising the work of the Health and Safety Executive, my Lords. It is in the business of publicising its work, and that is one of the reasons why it is anxious to do so within the confines of your Lordships' House.
§ Lord LEATHERLANDMy Lords, will the noble Earl arrange for a prominent position in this display to be reserved for the poster which says, "Keep Left"?
The Earl of GOWRIEMy Lords, the way in which propaganda is emphasised in this House, is, happily, not a matter for me.
Lord CAMPBELL of CROYMy Lords, bearing in mind the very late hours which we have been warned the House will have to sit in July and early August, may I ask the Minister whether the Government will consider providing four-posters in the Library in addition to the proposed display?
The Earl of GOWRIEMy Lords, as a harassed junior Minister, I am quite anxious that my noble friend should take proceedings against my noble friend the Chief Whip with the Health and Safety Executive if he feels he can do so.
§ Lord BROCKWAYMy Lords, may I ask courteously whether the Minister will reply to the two questions I put to him and to which he made no reply? First, will he provide copies of these posters to the safety committees of local authorities to enable them to do their work? Secondly, will he collate the posters which they are already issuing, many of which are very valuable, so that they may have wider adoption in this country and perhaps in Europe?
The Earl of GOWRIEMy Lords, I answered the noble Lord's earlier question perfectly fairly. The point of having a Health and Safety Executive is that it should make these decisions about the dissemination of its own information, and that Ministers should not do so.