§ Mr. BennettTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when the Cabinet Office was last inspected by the relevant local authority to ensure that it fully complies with health and safety at work legislation; and what steps have been taken to implement any necessary improvements relating to space standards, toilets, rest rooms, canteens and asbestos removal, for staff employed there. [17312]
§ Mr. HoramThe Cabinet Office and its agencies occupy a number of buildings throughout the country. The buildings concerned are, therefore, subject to different inspection regimes by the respective local council, local fire authority and local environmental health authority. The responsibility for ensuring compliance with the health and safety at work legislation, however, lies with the Health and Safety Executive.
Listed are the latest recorded inspections, since January 1993, for buildings where the Cabinet Office is the major occupier. Good working relations are maintained with all relevant local authorities and a number of informal inspections also take place. Except as noted, there are no outstanding actions still to be taken following any of the inspections listed.
Inspections Date London, 70 Whitehall Environmental Health Officer's visit November 1994 Portable electrical appliance testing August 1994 Water quality test December 1994 Hepburn House and 53 Parliament Street Portable electrical appliance safety testing March 1994 Fire Safety Inspection January 1995 Belgrave Road Home Office Fire Safety Inspection September 1994 Fire Brigade Inspection January 1995 Ascot, Sunningdale Park Inspection of kitchens and bedroom accommodation January 1995 Fire Safety Inspection November 1994 Asbestos Inspection September 1994 Portable electrical appliance safety test March 1995 Water quality sampled February 1995 Edinburgh Hill Street Electrical circuit safety check September 1994 Water quality check March 1995 Fire safety check September 1994 Basingstoke Alençon Link Asbestos check February 1995 Work is ongoing to meet recommendations Norwich Rosebury Court The CCTA moved to a new building constructed in July 1994 that fully complies with all extant Health and Safety, etc, legislation. Chessington Government Buildings, Leatherhead Road Kitchen Inspection February 1993
§ Mr. BennettTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what considerations led to the continued advertising of posts within the civil service to work in950W the Cabinet Office for two hours a week longer than the proposed European Community directive on maximum hours of work. [17311]
§ Mr. HoramThe working time directive is not in force. The United Kingdom's challenge to it has yet to be considered by the European Court of Justice. Working hours in the Cabinet Office are agreed between management and staff in the light of particular circumstances, under the guiding principles set out in the civil service management code.