§ Mr. Greville Jannerasked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) what are his reasons for postponing the bringing into effect of the proposed regulations on health and safety representatives and committees; and whether he will make a statement;
(2) whether he will now bring the proposed regulations on health and safety representatives and committees into effect in those areas covered by the Factories Act;
(3) what estimates he has received as to the cost of introducing the proposed regulations on health and safety committees and representatives into force in the public sector; from whom these were received; and whether he agrees with them;
(4) whether he will now confirm his approval of the proposed regulations on health and safety committees and representatives in their latest published form;
(5) on what date he approved the proposed regulations, code and guidance on health and safety committees and representatives;
(6) whether he will now lay before Parliament the proposed health and safety regulations for safety committees and representatives;
(7) whether he intends to bring the health and safety regulations for safety committees and representatives into full force in all sectors of industry at the earliest date which he considers practicable.
§ Mr. John GrantI have nothing to add to the replies given to Questions by my hon. Friend the Member for Coventry, South-West (Mrs. Wise) on 19th and 30th November—[Vol. 919, c.797; and Vol. 921, c. 71–2.]
§ Mr. Greville Jannerasked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) what representations he has received from the 100W TUC, the CBI and local authority associations respectively, regarding the delay in implementing the proposed regulations on health and safety representatives and committees;
(2) what representations he has received from unions in the private and in the public sector, respectively, concerning the failure to bring the proposed regulations concerning health and safety committees and representatives into force.
§ Mr. John GrantWe have received representations from the TUC, from national and local trade union officials, from secretaries of some trades councils and from a number of individual trade unionists. The CBI has also indicated its support for the Health and Safety Commission's proposals. There have been representations from local authority associations relating to the cost of implementing the proposals.
§ Mr. Greville Jannerasked the Secretary of State for Employment how many lives he estimates would be saved and how many personal injury accidents avoided each month as a result of the implementation of the proposed regulations on health and safety representatives and committees.
§ Mr. John GrantIt is impossible to make any such estimates.
§ Mr. Greville Jannerasked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) whether he will advise employers in the private and in the public sectors, respectively, to consult safety representatives appointed by independent trade unions pending the bringing into force of the proposed regulations on making such consultations compulsory;
(2) whether he will advise employers in the private and in the public sectors, respectively, to install and consult safety committees pending their compulsory introduction when the proposed regulations are enforced.
§ Mr. John GrantUntil such time as statutory provision is made for safety representatives and safety committees there is nothing to prevent any employer from making a voluntary agreement with representatives of his employees about arrangements for consultation on health and safety matters, and many have done so to good purpose.