§ Mr. Leslie Huckfieldasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) whether he will introduce legislation requiring the notification of all accidents occurring on escalators in stores, offices and all public premises;
(2) what research has been carried out by his Department into ensuring greater safety on escalators; and whether he will make a statement;
(3) what consultations he has had with the Shoe and Allied Trades Research 372W Association about its findings on certain types of footwear and escalators;
(4) what consultations he has had recently with the Multiple Shops Federation and the Retail Distributors Association on the dangers arising on escalators since they were advised by his Department to display notices warning of their dangers;
(5) what provisions exist in legislation for the inspection and maintenance of escalators;
(6) what research has been carried out by his Department into the possible dazzle and glare problems caused by lights playing on metal treaded escalators;
(7) what publicity material is available from his Department about the contents of warning notices for display on escalators;
(8) how many letters he has received since taking office about safety on escalators; and what reply he has sent:
(9) what studies he has made of the legislation in other countries governing the installation and operation of escalators, especially in their requirements for warning the public of their possible dangers;
(10) whether he will prepare a code of practice for the operation of escalators;
(11) what research has been carried out by his Department into the possibilities for accident prevention on escalators by teflon friction coating of the side and riser plates;
(12) whether he will publish details of accidents involving children on wooden-treated type escalators and metal-treaded type escalators, respectively, in each of the last five years;
(13) whether he will introduce regulations governing provision of warning notices in connection with escalators installed in stores and other public places;
(14) whether he will introduce regulations governing the safety of escalators in stores and other public places;
(15) whether he will introduce legislation compelling the use of devices on all escalators which stop the mechanism should an emergency arise;
(16) whether he will introduce legislation requiring that gaps on escalators 373W between side panel and steps should be covered by a guard;
(17) whether he will introduce legislation requiring clear warning notices on the possible dangers of soft-soled footwear on escalators.
§ Mr. SharplesFollowing two accidents to children on escalators some time ago, the Home Office, after consultations with interested organisations, recommended the display of suitable warning notices on escalators in shops and other public places, and subsequently recommended the adoption by all concerned of the relevant British Standard, which had meanwhile been revised to include additional safety requirements. The text of the warning notice is available from the Home Office on request.
As there is a wide measure of compliance with the Department's two recommendations, legislation of the kind proposed is unnecessary. This was the answer given to the one letter received on this subject since my right hon. Friend took office.
No precise details of accidents according to the type of escalator are available, but I believe accidents of any kind to be very few and legislation requiring all of them to be reported would not be justified.
The Home Office has not made a special study of the relevant law in other countries. It does not carry out its own research, but keeps closely in touch with research at present being undertaken by other organisations into the various matters mentioned. As to these, I understand that no firm conclusions have yet emerged.
Escalators are subject to control under the Offices, Shops and Railway Premises Act, 1963, so far as the safety of employees is concerned.