§ Mr. Oakesasked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity (1) if she is satisfied with the progress made by employers in setting up joint works safety committees during the last two years; and if she will make a statement;
243W(2) if she will now seek power to require the establishment of machinery for joint consultation between employers and employees on industrial safety.
§ Mr. FernyhoughThe subject is under urgent consideration by a sub-committee of the Industrial Safety Advisory Council. In May, 1967 the Factory Inspectorate carried out a survey of the arrangements for joint consultation on safety in factories employing more than 50 people. This information provided a base-line from which to assess progress and the results 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 legislation must await the results of this second survey and their consideration by the sub-committee.