§ Mr. Cryerasked the Secretary of State for Employment if a date for the publication of the new booklet, intended to replace the accident series, has been fixed; and if he will give an assurance that the booklet will be published before 1st July 1976.
§ Mr. Harold WalkerThe decision to cease publication of accidents was taken by my Department before the formation of the Health and Safety Commission. I understand that the Commission and Executive are considering whether there is a need for publications of this kind.
§ Mr. Cryerasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he has consulted with the Chairman of the Health and Safety Commission regarding the possible closure of the Industrial Health and Safety Centre, Horseferry Road, and its use for office accommodation by the Health and Safety Executive.
§ Mr. Harold WalkerI have not had any previous discussion with the Chairman of the Health and Safety Commission about the possible closure of the Industrial Health and Safety Centre, Horseferry Road, and its use for office accommodation by the Health and Safety Executive. I understand from the Chairman that the Executive is at present486W conducting a review of the functions of the Health and Safety Centre. There are at present no plans to close the Centre or to use it for office accommodation. In fact, the Executive is most anxious to ensure that the Centre plays the fullest part in disseminating information about health and safety at work, and it is for this reason that the present review is being conducted.
§ Mr. Cryerasked the Secretary of State for Employment what consultations have been instituted with the Health and Safety Commission to produce legislation further to control the lifting of heavy weights by workpeople in order to reduce the demands on the Health Service arising from back injuries.
§ Mr. Harold WalkerI am advised by the Chairman of the Health and Safety Commission that the Health and Safety Executive has held informal discussions with representatives of a number of organisations having wide experience in the problems of the manual lifting of heavy weights. In addition, it is intended to include the subject in a review of the wider field of ergonomics which is to be undertaken by the Executive.