§ Mr. Ian McCartneyTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 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. [33454]
Mrs. KnightCosts incurred by the Treasury over each of the past five years for compensation paid to employees or their families, or members of the public as a result of minor injuries related to the work of the Department are as follows:
- 1991: £3,270
- 1992: Nil
- 1993: £1,500
- 1994: Nil
- 1995: Nil
No major or fatal injuries occurred during this period. Sick pay costs are deducted from the compensation awarded; therefore, no sick pay costs were incurred.
No compensation claims involved information technology or expenditure of more than £5,000.
§ Mr. McCartneyTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 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 bring them up to acceptable health and safety standards, detailing incidents involving information technology and those involving expenditure of more than £5,000. [33455]
Mrs. KnightThe information requested is not available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, significant sums have been spent maintaining buildings, furniture and equipment to acceptable standards, including measures to meet health and safety requirements. Expenditure in the Treasury has included the removal of asbestos; the provision of new furniture and replacement lighting to comply with the 129W Display Screen Equipment Regulations 1992; and the installation of fire detection equipment to meet current fire standards.
§ Mr. McCartneyTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 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. [33453]
Mrs. KnightThe table gives the number of injuries suffered by staff in the Treasury, HM Customs and Excise, the Office for National Statistics, Paymaster, the Valuation Office and the Royal Mint in each of the past five years.
19911 1992 1993 1994 1995 Minor injuries 697 1,376 1,293 21460 579 3 6 5 2 4 Fatal injuries 31 — 41 — 51 Of the minor injuries the following were IT related: 3 5 2 1 nil 1 Data for Customs and Excise for 1991 and 1995 are unavailable. 2 Two injuries involved electric shocks from computer equipment in Customs and Excise. 3 A maintenance fitter working for the Royal Mint suffered head injuries whilst carrying out work on factory Customs plant. 4 Customs Officer fell into the hold of a ship whilst undertaking a search of the vessel 5 A transport operator working for the Royal Mint was killed when his fork-lift truck overturned. The Inland Revenue does not maintain comparable information. However, records of claims for compensation for upper limb disorder (RSI) injuries directly related to information technology are as follows:
- 1991: 20
- 1992: 24
- 1993: 41
- 1994: 43
- 1995: 47
The Inland Revenue also had one fatality over this five-year period; a member of staff working in the Saphire Plaza building in Reading contracted Legionnaires' disease. The Health and Safety Executive was involved in an investigation.