§ Mr. DobsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish dates of all meetings with outside persons or bodies and titles of all non-departmental briefing papers or any associated material concerning the possible amendment of sections 1(1), 1(2) or 15(1) of the Health and Safety at Work, etc. Act 1974; what plans he has to amend sections 1(1), 1(2) or 15(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act, etc. 1974 in respect of matters relating to his Department; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Michael ForsythThere have been many discussions of a wide range of issues arising from the Health and Safety Commission's review of regulation, including those within the seven sectoral task groups. Any question of amendment of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 would take into consideration the findings of the Health and Safety Commission's review.
§ Mr. DobsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish a table showing for each of the past five years, the total number of each of forms OSR1, OSR7, F9, F10, F1229, F2252, F2522, F2404 and ASB5 received by the Health and Safety Executive and the total number estimated to be outstanding for each year; and what action the Health and Safety Executive took in each year to chase up outstanding forms.
§ Mr. Michael ForsythInformation about the number of forms OSR1, F9, F10, F1229, F2252, F2522 and ASB5 received by the Health and Safety Executive is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Forms OSR7 and F2404 are not required to be sent to HSE. As part of its inspection strategy, HSE seeks out premises that are not registered. Additionally and where relevant, during the course of inspection visits HSE inspectors remind occupiers of the requirement to provide formal notification to HSE as appropriate.
§ Mr. DobsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish a table showing for each of the past five years, the total number of inspections made by health and safety inspectors in relation to completion by employers of each of forms F31, F32, F34, F35, F36, F44A, F47, F55, F55A, F57, F59, F60, F339, F658, F750, F751, F1327, F1952, F2032, F2067, F2197, F2198, F2346, F2351, F2362, F2525, F2526, F2527, F2530 and F2531 and the total number of inspectors available to make such inspections; what was the total number of establishments found not to have completed such forms; and what action the Health and Safety Executive took in each year to chase up outstanding forms.
§ Mr. Michael ForsythThe information is not available in the form requested.
The forms listed should be completed in various circumstances under the Factories Act 1961. Forms F658, F1327 and F2362 are no longer used.
335WThe following table shows the total number of planned inspection visits made by FI in the last five years and the number of factory inspectors in post in the field at 1 April in each year.
Year (1 April to 31 March) Number of planned inspections Number of inspectors 1988–89 118,903 514.5 1989–90 126,495 527.0 1990–91 130,016 558.5 1991–92 130,275 577.0 1992–93 121,486 608.0 The primary purpose of planned inspection visits is to consider compliance with health and safety legislation and where necessary to give advice and guidance to employers and others. During visits inspectors consider the use of statutory forms and impress on occupiers, where appropriate, the importance of them.