§ Mr. Nicholas Wintertonasked the Secretary of State for Employment whether his Department will institute research into the causes of agricultural accidents among children and, in particular, as to whether the driving of tractors by children aged 13 years and over contributes to such accidents.
§ Mr. WaddingtonSince 1956 all fatal accidents to children arising from agricultural activities—558 in total from 1956 to 1981—have been reported to and investigated by HM Agricultural Inspectorate. The Notification of Accidents and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations introduced from 1 January 1981 a requirement to report incidents which also involve major injuries to children.
All the various causes of accidents to children, which occur repeatedly, are well known to the industry as well as the inspectorate and I am satisfied that sufficient information already exists without further research.
Seventeen children aged 13–15 have been killed in the period 1971–1979 as a result of driving tractors and other self-propelled machines. Fuller details of these and other accidents to children are included in discussion document "Proposal to review the minimum age at which children may drive or ride on agricultural machinery" recently published by the Health and Safety Commission and available from the Stationery Office.