Mr. Ted Fletcherasked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity in view of the report of the Chief Inspector of Factories that less than half of British companies have machinery for trade unions and managements to meet regularly to discuss ways of improving industrial safety, if she will take steps to ensure more frequent meetings.
§ Mr. FernyhoughThe promotion of joint consultation in industry on safety matters is under urgent consideration by a sub-committee of my right hon. Friend's Industrial Safety Advisory Council.
In May 1968 the Sub-Committee published a booklet "Works Safety Committees in Practice—some case studies", for the information and help of firms considering whether to set up safety committees or seeking to improve existing ones. In October, as a result of the discussions on the Sub-Committee, my right hon. Friend's Chief Inspector of Factories wrote to all factories employing more than 50 persons stressing the importance of joint consultation in accident prevention and enclosing notes giving guidance on the establishment and operation of safety committees.
In May 1967 the Factory Inspectorate carried out a survey of the arrangements for joint consultation on safety in fac- 24W tories employing more than 50 people, the results of which were published in the Ministry of Labour Gazette in November 1967. A second survey is to take place in the spring of 1969 to see what progress has been made since the 1967 inquiry. Any decision on future action must await the results of this second survey and their consideration by the sub-committee.