§ Mr. David Clarkasked the Secretary of State for Employment by how much the numbers employed, respectively, in coalmining, the steel industry and the textile industry changed in the Yorkshire and Humberside Region between June 1965 and June 1970, between June 1970 and June 1971, between June 1971 and June 1972; and what is his estimate for the year from June 1972.
§ Mr. Chichester-ClarkThe following table shows changes in the estimated numbers of employees in employment in the Yorkshire and Humberside region:
§ Mr. Roseasked the Secretary of State for Employment whether, as part of his study of the Robens Report, he will consider introducing legislation providing for compulsory medical examinations of all industrial workers in processes where there is a danger or potential danger to health.
§ Mr. Dudley SmithNo. Legislation on these lines was not suggested by the Robens Report. The Factories Act and regulations made under it already require the medical examination of workers employed in certain hazardous processes. From 1st February 1973 the responsibility for carrying out these examinations will be with the Employment Medical Advisory Service. The service will also undertake the medical examination of other workers where it appears that their 323W health may be affected by the conditions of their employment but the first and most important method of protection for workers must be effective control of the working environment.
§ Mr. Roseasked the Secretary of State for Employment whether, as part of his study of the Robens Report, he will consider introducing legislation to provide for compulsory codes of safety, joint safety committees and other methods of cutting down injury and disease in industry.
§ Mr. Dudley SmithAll the recommendations of the Robens Committee are aimed at cutting down injury and disease in industry.
The committee considered that there was scope for both statutory controls and non-statutory codes of practice. On the question of joint safety committees, the committee recommended that there should be a statutory obligation upon employers to consult with their employees on safety and health matters, but that precise arrangements for consultation should be determined between those concerned. All of these matters are under consideration.
Men Boys Women Girls March 1972 South East 20.0 150.8 99.7 300.0 East Anglia 11.9 73.7 53.5 174.4 South West 12.2 90.1 60.6 155.8 West Midlands 5.6 70.9 30.9 146.0 East Midlands 10.6 95.4 57.9 308.8 Yorkshire and Humberside 5.7 47.1 42.5 101.8 North West 4.2 27.0 27.3 62.6 North 4.3 24.6 24.7 47.6 Wales 6.6 30.4 26.0 43.0 Scotland 2.8 8.0 12.5 23.4 April 1972 South East 23.4 150.7 116.8 298.4 East Anglia 13.5 75.7 55.7 153.5 South West 13.3 104.0 71.3 189.3 West Midlands 6.1 52.1 30.2 117.0 East Midlands 11.8 82.3 61.4 242.8 Yorkshire and Humberside 6.6 39.7 43.4 83.5 North West 4.2 25.1 27.6 76.9 North 4.3 18.2 24.6 40.9 Wales 7.1 29.0 24.5 52.6 Scotland 2.9 9.4 13.0 28.7 May 1972 South East 29.0 207.1 138.2 419.4 East Anglia 17.6 119.5 75.7 229.9 South West 17.0 142.1 88.9 260.6 West Midlands 6.8 65.3 33.3 117.5 East Midlands 13.7 81.7 68.9 244.7 Yorkshire and Humberside 8.1 46.9 49.1 92.2 North West 4.6 27.2 30.8 82.1 North 5.0 20.7 27.3 43.5 Wales 8.5 37.2 33.5 65.3 Scotland 3.6 13.9 15.5 41.7