§ Mr. Greville Jannerasked the Secretary of State for Employment what sex-based discriminatory legislation in the health and safety fields is in the process of being reviewed by the Equal Opportunities Commission in consultation with the Health and Safety Commission; and when he expects that review to be completed.
§ Mr. John GrantSection 55 of the Sex Discrimination Act 1975 places a duty on the Equal Opportunities Commission to keep under review, in consultation with the Health and Safety Commission, the relevant statutory provisions—as defined in Section 53 of the Health and Safety at Work, Etc. Act 1974—in so far298W basis, as at 31st December 1976—the latest available figures—is set out in the attached schedule:
as they require men and women to be treated differently. The majority of the provisions to be reviewed are to be found in the Factories Act 1961, the regulations made under that Act and in associated legislation, such as the Hours of Employment (Conventions) Act 1936.
I have asked the Chairman of the Equal Opportunities Commission to give priority to the review and I have required the commission to complete a report on all the provisions concerned and to let me have it, with recommendations, by the end of 1978.