§ Mr. BoyesTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many visits were made by health and safety executives to(a) water authority and (b) statutory water company premises during the last 12 months; how many notices were issued as a result; how many prosecutions were made under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974; and for what reasons.
§ Mr. NichollsThe Health and Safety Executive's records do not distinguish between water authority and statutory water company premises.
Between 1 April 1987 and 31 March 1988 inspectors from the Health and Safety Executive's factory and agricultural inspectorates made 498 visits to activities in the water supply industry. Information about other Health and Safety Executive visits cannot be obtained without incurring disproportionate costs.
During this period one improvement notice was issued and two prosecutions taken. A contractor was prosecuted for the unsafe removal of asbestos at a water supply premises and a water authority was prosecuted for failing to prevent access to disused plant containing water.