§ Mr. GalbraithTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the average fine for health and safety offences involving serious injury during 1991–92.
§ Mr. McLoughlinThe average fine for all health and safety offences in 1991–92 was £1,134. The average fine for those convictions arising out of a serious injury is not available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
§ Mr. GalbraithTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment if she will deposit in the Library the names of those attending and minutes of the recent meeting between insurance companies, other interested parties and the Health and Safety Executive regarding the possible tendering out of some of HSE's work.
§ Mr. McLoughlinDuring the market-testing feasibility study referred to in my reply to the hon. Member for Denton and Reddish (Mr. Bennett) 25 November 1992,Official Report, columns 633–34, the team under the direction of the director general of the Health and Safety Executive met representatives from a wide range of industry, the trade unions and other interested parties. the Association of British Insurers was one of those parties and its advice is reflected in the report my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State recently received. That report is still being considered and it would be inappropriate to release further details.
§ Mr. GalbraithTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the total number of factories and other workplaces for which the Health and Safety Executive is responsible for enforcing the Health and Safety at Work, etc. Act 1974; how many of these have been inspected by the factory inspectorate; and how many have received no inspection in the last five, seven, nine and 11 years.
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§ Mr. McLoughlinThere are 650,999 workplaces registered with the Health and Safety Executive's agricultural, factory, quarries, mines, explosives and nuclear installations inspectorates and offshore safety division for which HSE is the enforcing authority for health and safety legislation.
It is not possible, without incurring disproportionate cost, to identify how many of these premises have been inspected by HSE's factory inspectorate—FI—of how many have received no inspection in the last five, seven, nine and 11 years.
However, on 31 March 1992, the latest date for which information is centrally available, 417,316 fixed premises were registered with FI.
§ Mr. GalbraithTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many employees have been gaoled for offences under the Health and Safety at Work, etc. Act 1974 since 1974.
§ Mr. McLoughlinTo date, no employees have been jailed for offences under the Health and Safety at Work, etc. Act 1974.
§ Mr. GalbraithTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment if she will make a statement about the privatisation of the Health and Safety Executive.
§ Mr. McLoughlinMy right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has recently received a report on the feasibility of market-testing those areas of the Health and Safety Executive's activities not covered by their existing programme. My right hon. Friend is considering the report and will issue a statement in due course.