§ Mr. Watkinsonasked the Secretary of State for Employment how many people were killed in mines and quarries in 1976 and 1975 excluding those who work in such places.
§ Mr. John GrantI am advised by the Chairman of the Health and Safety Commission that one such fatality occurred in 1976 in a working mine. The Health and Safety Executive does not maintain comprehensive records of fatalities in abandoned mines and quarries.
§ Mr. Watkinsonasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he is satisfied with the level of safety attained in and around quarries and mines so far as the public is concerned.
§ Mr. John GrantThe Health and Safety at Work, etc., Act 1974 imposes upon employers, employees and self-employed persons a duty to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that work activities do not expose members of the public to risks to their health and safety. So long as accidents occur at mines and quarries involving members of the public my right hon. Friend cannot be satisfied with the level of safety attained.
§ Mr. Watkinsonasked the Secretary of State for Employment how many cases were brought in 1976, 1975 and 1974 by 54W the Mines and Quarries Inspectorate for failure by a firm to provide adequate protection against danger.
§ Mr. John GrantI am informed by the Chairman of the Health and Safety Commission that there were two cases in 1974 brought by, or on behalf of, the Mines and Quarries Inspectorate, and one in each of the years 1975 and 1976. In addition cases were brought against a number of employees at mines and quarries.
§ Mr. Watkinsonasked the Secretary of State for Employment what recommendations can be made by an inspector of the Mines and Quarries Inspectorate to a company about safety precautions.
§ Mr. John GrantThe Health and Safety at Work, etc., Act 1974 sets out the powers that mines and quarries inspectors may exercise for the purposes of improving the standards of health and safety of persons employed in, or of others who may be affected by, mine and quarry workings. An inspector can make recommendations whenever he is of the opinion that further precautions should be taken to improve safety and may serve improvement and prohibition notices to ensure that those recommendations are put into effect.
§ Mr. Watkinsonasked the Secretary of State for Employment how many persons work for the Mines and Quarries Inspectorate.
§ Mr. John GrantI am informed by the Chairman of the Health and Safety Commission that at 1st May 1977, 120 mines and quarries inspectors were in post with 56 executive, clerical and other supporting staff.
§ Mr. Watkinsonasked the Secretary of of State for Employment where the offices of the Mines and Quarries Inspectorate are located.
§ Mr. John GrantI am informed by the Chairman of the Health and Safety Commission that they are located as follows:
55WHeadquarters—Regina House, 259-269 Old Marylebone Road, London N.W.I.
DISTRICTS
Scottish—Meldrum House, 15 Drunsheugh Gardens, Edinburgh.
North of England—Pennine House, Washington, Tyne and Wear.
North Yorkshire—Grosvenor House, Union Street, Wakcfield.
South Yorkshire—Silver House, Silver Street, Doncaster.
North Midlands—Copthall House, 7 Potter Street, Worksop.
South Midlands—Granville House, Gran-ville Road, Leicester.
West Midlands and North West—St. George's Chambers, Merrial Street, Newcastle, Staffs.
South Wales—129 Cathedral Road, Cardiff.
Southern—161–163 Friar Street, Reading.
§ Mr. Watkinsonasked the Secretary of State for Employment how many sites an inspector from the Mines and Quaries Inspectorate on average visits in a year.
§ Mr. John GrantI am informed by the Chairman of the Health and Safety Commission that an inspector in the field makes on average some 235 inspections in a year. A number of those would be inspections of the same mine or quarry.
§ Mr. Watkinsonasked the Secretary of Satte for Employment how many visits have been paid to the Forest of Dean in the last year to mines and quarries by the Mines and Quarries Inspectorate.
§ Mr. John GrantI understand from the Chairman of the Health and Safety Commission that 39 inspections of such mines and quarries have been made in the last 12 months.