§ 26. Mr. Cryerasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will take steps to amend the Health and Safety at Work Act so that absolute provisions of the Factories Act 1961 and the Mines and Quarries Act 1954 are preserved.
§ Mr. Harold WalkerNo. The Act already makes it clear that changes must be designed to maintain or improve the standards of health, safety and welfare established by or under existing enactments and made only after consultation with appropriate bodies. As was explained fully during its parliamentary stages, to do more would defeat the whole spirit and purpose of the Act by making it difficult and legally risky to rationalise, update and improve upon existing legislation.
36. Mr. R. C. Mitchellasked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will appoint a professional safety officer to the Health and Safety Commission.
§ Mr. Harold WalkerI cannot yet say. My right hon. Friend will announce the appointment of the ninth member of the commission in the near future, when he has completed his consideration of the nominations put forward by a number of professionally interested organisations, including the Institution of Industrial Safety Officers.