HC Deb 12 November 1975 vol 899 cc754-5W
Mr. McNamara

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will take steps to ensure that the Health and Safety at Work etc., Act is fully enforced in respect of the election of workers' safety representatives on board trawlers.

Mr. Harold Walker

The section of the Health and Safety at Work Act relating to the election of workers' safety representatives, Section 2(5), is due to be repealed when the Employment Protection Bill is enacted. However, Section 2(4) of the Act empowers the Secretary of State to make regulations providing for the appointment in prescribed cases by recognised trade unions of safety representatives from among the employees. It is for the Health and Safety Commission to put forward to the Secretary of State proposals for such regulations, having first consulted widely with interested parties, and I am advised by the Chairman of the Commission that a consultative document covering this subject will shortly be published. No doubt those bodies concerned with the fishing industry will wish to consider very carefully the question of the suitability of the Commission's proposals for application to that industry.

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