§ Mr. BarronTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment what are the reasons for the Health and Safety Executive's failure to produce guidance on risk assessment and other publications on electricity at work in hotels, violence to staff in the retail sector and the cost to the British economy of work accidents and work-related ill health.
§ Mr. Michael Forsyth[holding answer 11 January 1994]: The Health and Safety Executive has produced 267W considerable guidance on the principles and practice of risk assessment. General guidance on testing of portable electrical equipment has been available for some time and specific guidance for the hotel industry is due to be published shortly. Guidance on violence to staff in the retail sector is due to be published in June and a detailed report on "The Costs to the British Economy of Work Accidents and Work Related Ill-health" will be published in February 1994.
§ Mr. BarronTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the estimated total cost to the Health and Safety Executive of the review of health and safety regulations being conducted by the Health and Safety Commission.
§ Mr. Michael Forsyth[holding answer 11 January 1994]: Estimates of the total cost could only be provided at disproportionate cost, but the costs are being met from within the Health and Safety Executive's overall resources within the context of the Health and Safety Commission's role in rationalising and modernising health and safety legislation.
§ Mr. BarronTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many letters have been received from businesses complaining about the cost of complying with health and safety legislation, in response to the open invitation issued by the chairman of the Health and Safety Commission on 28 October.
§ Mr. Michael Forsyth[holding answer 11 January 1994]: The Health and Safety Commission has issued an open invitation, primarily through the trade press, for evidence on both the benefits and costs of health and safety regulations to be submitted by the end of January 1994. The Commission had by 11 January 1994, received 70 contacts from businesses. Businesses and other organisations are also playing an active role in the review of regulation by taking part in case studies and surveys.