§ Mr. Christopher Priceasked the Secretary of State for Employment what consultations he has held and what action he has taken to implement the recommendations on the need for a broader base in the training of engineers in paragraphs 210 (ii) of the report of the court of inquiry into the Flixborough disaster.
§ Mr. John GrantThe Chairman of the Health and Safety Commission was asked to take action necessary to deal with the recommendations in the Flixborough Report when it was published. I am informed by him that the Health and Safety Executive, after discussions with the Department of Education and Science, wrote to over 200 professional and educational institutions drawing their attention to the recommendation in paragraph 210(2) and inviting them to examine their current practices, to review syllabi and to consider the effectiveness of their presentation of the integral and important element of safety in their courses. I am happy to report that the replies to the letter indicated that the invitation had met with a generally favourable response and that most of the recipients have undertaken to examine the problem.
198WIt will be appreciated that the content of professional training courses, especially at undergraduate level, is very heavy, and that if major changes had been necessary this might have been difficult. However, the replies showed that major changes were not necessary, and that such changes in emphasis or content as were needed could be implemented within the existing framework. Obviously this is a matter which will take time to ensure careful study of the implications of the recommendation; and its translation into practical changes in educational and training programmes will inevitably be a gradual development.