HC Deb 06 December 1976 vol 922 cc42-3W
Mr. Terry Walker

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection how many people are being employed on the home accidents study being run by the Consumer Safety Unit; and what will be the cost of the scheme as a whole.

Mr. John Fraser

When the accident surveillance system is in full operation it will employ one member of my Department's Consumer Safety Unit, the equivalent of 21 full-time clerical staff based at hospitals, and approximately seven part-time regional supervisory staff. The cost is estimated at £90,000 per annum.

Mr. Terry Walker

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what consultation took place with NALGO before the launching of the home accidents study by the Consumer Safety Unit; and how much thought was given to the type of form to be used and the follow-up service.

Mr. John Fraser

The consultative document on Consumer Safety—Cmnd. 6398—published in February 1976 invited comments on all the proposals contained in it, including those for a home accident surveillance system which was described in more detail in my Department's report "Collection of Information on Accidents in the Home". Comments on these papers have been received from a wide range of organisations, though not as yet from NALGO.

The form to be used for data collection was developed in a feasibility study whose results were given in the report, and was later improved as a result of pilot runs at hospitals. The content of the form was carefully considered by qualified staff in my Department, with the advice of external consultants. Particular attention has been paid to suggestions received from medical, administrative and clerical staff in the hospitals concerned. Follow-up work will include in-depth studies in selected fields and an information retrieval system, based on a computer programme currently being written. This will enable information to be extracted from the data collected to suit the varying needs of health authorities, research organisations Government Departments, manufacturers, and others concerned with home safety.