§ Mr. Greville Jannerasked the Secretary of State for Employment how many, and what proportion of, prosecutions brought under the Health and Safety at Work Act before magistrates' courts and Crown courts, respectively, have been brought against directors, managers, company secretaries and individual workers, respectively; and what was the outcome of such proceedings.
§ Mr. John GrantI am advised by the Chairman of Health and Safety Commission that three prosecutions of individual directors have been brought under the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. All three cases were dealt with by the magistrates' court, and all resulted in convictions. No cases were brought against managers or company secretaries. 16 prosecutions were brought against imployees. All were heard by the magistrates. There were 11 convictions, one case dismissed, and three cases withdrawn, including one where the court convicted on a separate information against the same person.
§ Mr. Greville Jannerasked the Secretary of State for Employment where individual managers and workers, respectively, have been convicted of offences under the Health and Safety at Work Act, what penalties have been imposed.
§ Mr. John GrantI am advised by the Chairman of the Health and Safety Commission that in the three successful cases against directors, fines of £50, £75 and £300 were imposed. In the 11 successful cases against employees, two were given conditional discharges, and fines imposed on the remaining nine ranged from £10 to £200, the average fine being £69.50.