§ Mr. Thompsonasked the Secretary of State for Employment what criticisms of safety standards in hospitals and Government Departments he has received from the Health and Safety Commission; and if he will take immediate steps to implement the Commission's recommendation that all workplaces, including those of the Crown, should be brought under the Health and Safety at Work, etc. Act.
§ Mr. John GrantAlthough Crown bodies are exempt from the provisions of the Health and Safety at Work, etc. Act relating to enforcement, penalties and offences, I must emphasise that this does not enable them to escape their obligations and to ignore any recommendations made by inspectors of the Health and Safety Executive. The Act is already binding on the Crown and the Government have given a firm commitment that they will take whatever action is necessary to secure compliance with the Act's provisions throughout the public sector.
I have received no specific and detailed criticisms of health and safety standards in hospitals and Government Departments from the Commission, but at a meeting with Ministers in November 1977 the Commission made known to me its view that amending legislation should be introduced to remove the Crown's immunity from enforcement and prosecution. As a result of that meeting, the Commission was asked to prepare, for further ministerial consideration a paper setting out its proposals and detailing the areas where it has experienced, or anticipates experiencing, difficulty because of the present position of the Crown under the Act. That paper is still awaited.