§ Mr. AllenTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many staff years have been expended on the Health and Safety Executive's market-testing programme since 1 January.
§ Mr. Michael ForsythThe Health and Safety Executive expects its market-testing programme to produce significant savings. However, the initiative is at an early stage and, to date, the number of staff years spent on market testing, net of savings, is 14.5.
§ Mr. BarronTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will instruct the Health and Safety Executive to place in the Library a copy of the publication "The Cost to the British Economy of Work Accidents and Work-Related Ill Health".
§ Mr. Michael Forsyth[holding answer 11 January 1994]: Yes, copies will be made available when it is published.
§ Mr. BarronTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment if the Health and Safety Commission's review of regulations has so far highlighted any of the sets of regulations identified by the Secretary of State as early candidates for revocation in his press notice of 20 July 1993 as the source of substantial undue costs to business.
§ Mr. Michael Forsyth[holding answer 11 January 1994]: The set of regulations referred to in the press notice were identified by the Health and Safety Executive as seeming to have outlived their usefulness in their contribution to maintaining health and safety standards.
The Government share the Health and Safety Commission's view that allowing outdated and unnecessary legislation to remain on the statute book adds to the complexity and uncertainty faced by business and others, distracts attention from essential requirements and thus reduces the effectiveness of the regulatory regime in maintaining necessary standards of health and safety.