Lead (Hansard, 16 October 1996)

§ Mr. Ian McCartney
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many people are estimated to work with lead and its compounds in the United Kingdom. [41123]

§ Sir Paul Beresford
The Health and Safety Executive is aware of approximately 18,000 workers working with lead and its compounds. However, this is probably an underestimate.

§ Mr. McCartney
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what further steps have been taken by the Health and Safety Executive to draw attention to the dangers of working with lead, following the ombudsman report into lead poisoning at Stallite Batteries, Yorkshire in 1990. [41122]

§ Sir Paul Beresford
As a direct result of the ombudsman report, the operation of the appointed doctor system has been improved. Guidance for appointed doctors has been updated.
1062W

§ Mr. McCartney
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many(a) improvement notices, (b) prohibition notices and (c) fines have been issued in each year since the lead regulations became law in 1981; and if he will indicate the average amount for fines. [41125]

§ Sir Paul Beresford
Table A gives the number of improvement and prohibition notices issued under the Control of Lead at Work Regulations 1980 by the Health and Safety Executive since 1986. Figures for earlier years are not readily available. Table B gives the number of convictions and average fines for the same years.

Table A: Control of Lead at Work Regulations 1980 Enforcement notices issued by HSE's field operations division inspectorates 1986–87 to 1995–96¹

Year Improvement Notice Prohibition Notice Total

1986–87 64 50 114

1987–88 39 23 62

1988–89 41 17 58

1989–90 65 8 73

1990–91 75 7 82

1991–92 60 33 93

1992–93 42 1 43

1993–94 53 11 64

1994–95 56 9 65

1995–96¹ 32 3 35

Total 527 162 689

¹ Provisional figures.

Table B: Proceedings instituted by HSE's field operations division under the Control of Lead at Work Regulations 1980

Year Convictions Average fine (£)

1986–87 12 135

1987–88 7 457

1988–89 7 507

1989–90 8 275

1990–91 10 1

1991–92 9 1,022

1992–93 2 1,000

1993–94 1 450

1994–95 0 0

1995–96 0 0

Table A: Control of Lead at Work Regulations 1980 Enforcement notices issued by HSE's field operations division inspectorates 1986–87 to 1995–96¹
Year	Improvement Notice	Prohibition Notice	Total
1986–87	64	50	114
1987–88	39	23	62
1988–89	41	17	58
1989–90	65	8	73
1990–91	75	7	82
1991–92	60	33	93
1992–93	42	1	43
1993–94	53	11	64
1994–95	56	9	65
1995–96¹	32	3	35
Total	527	162	689
¹ Provisional figures.

Table B: Proceedings instituted by HSE's field operations division under the Control of Lead at Work Regulations 1980
Year	Convictions	Average fine (£)
1986–87	12	135
1987–88	7	457
1988–89	7	507
1989–90	8	275
1990–91	10	1
1991–92	9	1,022
1992–93	2	1,000
1993–94	1	450
1994–95	0	0
1995–96	0	0