§ Mr. Ian McCartneyTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the cost in each of the past five years of(a) sick pay and (b) compensation paid to employees of his Department or their families, or members of the public, as a result of (i) minor, (ii) major and (iii) fatal injuries related to the work of his Department, detailing incidents involving information technology and those involving expenditure of more than £5,000. [33470]
§ Mr. BoswellInformation relating to the number of work-related injuries in this Department is given in another reply today, but the cost of those injuries in terms of sick pay and compensation is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
§ Mr. McCartneyTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on how many occasions in each of the past five years health and safety problems in his Department and its agencies have been reported via internal monitoring; and on how many occasions the Health and Safety Commission has become involved. [33468]
§ Mr. BoswellCentralised monitoring of records of health and safety problems—injuries and dangerous occurrences—have been maintained only since 1992. It is not possible to obtain data before that date without incurring disproportionate cost.
1992–1993–850, of which 27 were reported, as required by statute, to the Health and Safety Executive which is the enforcement arm of the Health and Safety Commission.1993–1994–871, of which 37 were reported to the Health and Safety Executive.1994–95–771, of which 44 were reported to the Health and Safety Executive—a Crown notice was subsequently served by HSE after investigation of one of the Veterinary Laboratories Agency's laboratories.1995–96 (to date)—654, of which 24 were reported to the Health and Safety Executive.The 1995–96 figures are not strictly comparable with previous years because of recent changes in statutory reporting procedures and classification of injuries.
§ Mr. McCartneyTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the cost in each of the past five years of rectifying working conditions that were the responsibility of his Department and its agencies, to bring102W them up to acceptable health and safety standards, detailing incidents involving information technology and those involving expenditure of more than £5,000. [33471]
§ Mr. BoswellExpenditure is not categorised in a way which distinguishes that spent on health and safety improvements alone and disproportionate cost would be involved in trying to do this. The Ministry and its agencies do, however, take action to anticipate new health and safety legislation and to react to new legislation when it is introduced. In addition, the Ministry's on-going programme of building maintenance is aimed in part at improving working conditions which helps to ensure that health and safety standards are maintained.
§ Mr. McCartneyTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many(a) minor, (b) major and (c) fatal injuries have been suffered by staff in his Department and its agencies in work-related incidents in each of the past five years, showing in each year how many were related to information technology and giving details of all incidents involving fatalities. [33469]
§ Mr. BoswellCentralised monitoring of records of injuries to staff have been maintained only since 1992. It is not possible to obtain data before that date without incurring disproportionate cost.
1992–93: 823 (minor) 27 (major) nil (fatalities) (one related to information technology)1993–94: 834 (minor) 37 (major) nil (fatalities) (nil related to information technology)1994–95: 727 (minor) 44 (major) nil (fatalities) (one related to information technology)1995–96 (to date): 630 (minor 24 (major) nil (fatalities) (10 related to information technology)The 1995–96 figures are not strictly comparable with previous years because of recent changes in statutory reporting procedures and classification of injuries.