§ Mr. Cryerasked the Secretary of State for Employment who is responsible for enforcing the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 in shop premises; and if he is satisfied that the Health and Safety (Enforcing Authority) Regulations 1977 give sufficient power to local authorities to enforce the Act.
§ Mr. John GrantIn reply to the first part of my hon. Friend's question, the local authorities are the proper enforcing authority for the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 as regards the majority of shop premises.
In reply to the second part of the question, the Health and Safety (Enforcing Authority) Regulations 1977 do not in themselves give local authorities power to enforce the Act. They set out to define classes of premises in respect of which local authorities shall exercise powers conferred on them by the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act sections 18(4) and 19(1). I am satisfied that those provisions confer sufficient power on local authorities to enforce the Act.