§ Mr. Cryerasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the 19 prosecutions under the Pottery (Health and Welfare) Special Regulations 1950 listed in Appendix 1 of the health and safety manufacturing and service industries 1977 report; and whether he will introduce legislation to 433W increase penalties from the average of £3 fine per prosecution.
§ Mr. John GrantI am advised by the chairman of the Health and Safety Commission that the 19 informations laid under the Pottery (Health and Welfare) Special Regulations 1950 to 1977 related to two firms. One firm was fined £50 on a single charge. In the other case informations were laid against each of the two partners in an unlimited company on nine cases under the regulations and one other charge. The court imposed penalties on this other charge, but gave a conditional discharge on the charges under the regulations, the condition being that the defendants should not be involved under further Health and Safety at Work, etc. Act charges in the following 12 months. Since 1975 the average penalty for cases under the regulations, other than this special case, has been £75.
The courts have recently been empowered by the Criminal Law Act 1977 to impose heavier penalties under the Health and Safety at Work, etc. Act 1974.