§ Mr. Roseasked the Secretary of State for Employment how many improvements and prohibition notices have been served since 30th November 1975 under the Health and Safety at Work Act.
§ Mr. John GrantI am informed by the Chairman of the Health and Safety Commission that 1,631 improvement notices and 728 prohibition notices were issued by inspectors of the Health and Safety Executive in the period 1st December 1975 to 31st March 1976, which is the latest date for which figures are available.
In the period of 1st January 1976 to 31st March 1976, 144 improvement notices and 31 prohibition notices were issued in agriculture.
No figures are available of notices issued by local authorities since 1st December 1975.
§ Mr. Roseasked the Secretary of State for Employment how many prosecutions and convictions have taken place under the Health and Safety at Work Act since 19th December 1975 for failure to comply with improvement and prohibition notices.
§ Mr. John GrantThe Chairman of the Health and Safety Commission informs me that between 19th December 1975 and 31st May 1976 the total number of informations laid and convictions obtained under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 for failure to comply with improvement and prohibition notices were as follows: informations laid, 52; convictions, 51.
§ Mr. Roseasked the Secretary of State for Employment what steps have now been taken to allocate responsibilities under Section 18 of the Health and Safety at Work Act as between local authorities and the Executive.
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§ Mr. John GrantProposals for Regulations to be made under Section 18 of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, concerning the allocation of additional enforcement duties to local authorities and the transfer of some of their present duties to the Health and Safety Executive, are now being examined by the Government in consultation with representatives of the local authorities. I cannot anticipate the outcome.
§ Mr. Roseasked the Secretary of State for Employment how many Regulations have been passed under the Health and Safety at Work Act since 12th December 1975.
§ Mr. John GrantI am informed by the Chairman of the Health and Safety Commission that 24 sets of Regulations have been made under Part I of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 since 12th December 1975. These all relate to coal mines. One set applies to coal mines generally; of the remainder, each set applies to a particular mine.
§ Mr. Roseasked the Secretary of State for Employment what information is now available concerning prosecutions brought under Sections 2 to 9 of the Health and Safety at Work Act.
§ Mr. John GrantThe Chairman of the Health and Safety Commission informs me between 1st April 1975—when the general requirements in the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 came into force—and 31st May 1976, the latest date for which details are available, a total of 177 informations were laid under Sections 2 to 9, inclusive. Detailed breakdown of prosecutions under each section were as follows:
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Section Informations laid Convictions Penalties £ 2 136 126 21,190 3 19 15 1,630 4 7 7 705 5 — — — 6 8 8 630 7 6 6 305 8 1 1 10 9 — — 177 163 £24,470 Three informations out of those laid under section 2 were for prosecution on indictment, all of which resulted in convictions and fines totalling £5,800.
§ Mr. Roseasked the Secretary of State for Employment what representations have been received and action taken in respect of the consultative document on safety representation and safety committees published under the Health and Safety at Work Act.
§ Mr. John GrantI am informed by the Chairman of the Health and Safety Commission that, apart from comments received from organisations formally consulted, the commission received comments from approximately 300 other interested organisations and individuals. I understand that the commission has completed its consideration of the comments and is now drafting its final proposals to the Secretary of State for Regulations and an approved code of practice on safety representatives and safety committees.
§ Mr. Roseasked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will publish in the Official Report any significant rulings of the court affecting the operation of the Health and Safety at Work Act.
May 1970 May 1971 May 1972 May 1973 May 1974 May 1975 May 1976 Dunoon … 3.6 3.1 4.9 3.8 3.5 4.1 5.4 Campbeltown … 12.8 11.4 11.2 7.8 7.9 10.1 11.7 Oban … 6.9 5.7 6.6 6.1 6.4 6.2 6.0 Wick* … 8.9 9.9 9.2 6.4 6.2 7.4 10.0 Thurso … 5.6 6.5 6.4 4.9 5.2 5.6 6.6 * Includes Lochinver, Helmsdale, Brora and Golspie