§ Mr. Rookerasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the support his Department is giving to Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Factories in overcoming safety problems associated with large companies who operate via subsidiaries whose only common denominator is their balance sheets.
§ Mr. Harold WalkerHer Majesty's Factory Inspectorate now forms part of the Health and Safety Executive under the Health and Safety Commission. My Department gives to the Health and Safety Commission all such support as is necessary in carrying out its responsibilites.
The Chairman of the Health and Safety Commission informs me that the standard of health and safety in subsidiaries of large companies is a problem which the Factory Inspectorate is considering at the present time and to which it will be giving increasing attention. It is, however, in the first place a matter for the parent companies themselves, under the requirements of Section 2 of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, to ensure that effective safety policies are devised and implemented.
§ Mr. Hall-Davisasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will take steps to ensure that each year the Health and Safety Commission publishes a report on the subjects on which it has received advice from the Nuclear Safety Advisory Committee and the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate and the nature of the advice received.
§ Mr. Harold WalkerSection 2(15) to the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 provides that the Health and Safety Commission shall make an annual report to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State on the performance of its functions during the year and that the Secretary of State shall lay the report before Parliament. I am informed by the Commission that the reports will include appropriate information about advice given by the Nuclear Safety Advisory Committee and the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate.