§ 82. Mr. Awberyasked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that the number of industrial accidents is increasing, especially in the building trade, and that many are not recorded; and what steps are being taken to impress upon workmen the importance of reporting every accident arising out of their employment so that proper steps can be taken to ensure greater safety.
§ Mr. WhitelawThe numbers of reported accidents for the last half of 1963 and the first three months of 1964 were considerably higher than in the corresponding periods in 1962. There is, however, reason to believe that these increases may be largely due to the efforts which have been made to improve the standard of accident reporting. In consultation with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance, my right hon. Friend has been conducting a special survey of reporting standards which, we hope, will help us to estimate the extent of any such improvement.
156WWith regard to the second part of the Question, it is employers who, under the Factories Act, 1961, have the legal responsibility for reporting accidents to the Factory Inspectorate. I agree that good arrangements within the works for notifying all accidents, whether they are legally reportable or not, can play a valuable part in accident prevention.