§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will seek to change section 28 of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act so as to remove the restriction which makes it a criminal offence for the Health and Safety Executive to disclose information on hazardous substances without the consent of the person who supplied it.
§ Mr. Gummer[pursuant to his reply, 26 March 1984, c. 28]: As we have made clear, in environmental matters, the presumption must be in favour of openness rather than secrecy. I am asking the Health and Safety Commission to advise me whether there is information received by the Health and Safety Executive in the course of the administration of the relevant statutory provisions of the 286W Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 which could be made publicly available having regard to the need for commercial confidentiality, and security; and whether the provisions of section 28 of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 present an obstacle to the disclosure of information the public may reasonably need.