§ Mr. JannerTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many companies and how many individuals were prosecuted under the Contol of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations, between 1 October 1989 and 31 December 1990; how many and what percentage of those prosecutions were successful; and what penalties were imposed on those found guilty of such offences.
§ Mr. ForthProvisional figures for the first year of operation of the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations—1 October 1989 to 30 September 1990—show a total of 29 informations laid under the regulations by HSE's factory and agricultural inspectorates. These resulted in 28 convictions—97 per cent.—with an average fine of £604 imposed. All these proceedings were taken against employers. No prosecutions were taken under the COSHH regulations against individuals as employees or self-employed persons.