§ Mr. Spearingasked the Secretary of State for Employment when he expects to lay orders to implement section 3(3) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974; what consultations he has made to this end; and what conclusions he has drawn.
§ Mr. John GrantI understand that the Health and Safety Commission is actively considering this matter, though work is at an early stage. It will consult interested parties in accordance with its normal procedure before putting forward its proposals for regulations.
§ Mr. Gryllsasked the Secretary of State for Employment how many trade unions or safety representatives have made representations to factory inspectors that employers are not carrying out their obligations under the Safety Representatives and Committees Regulations 1978; what enforcement action has been taken; and in how many cases it has been reported by employers that the recognised trade union has not yet appointed safety representatives.
§ Mr. John GrantI am advised by the chairman of the Health and Safety Commission that Her Majesty's inspectors of factories meet representatives of trade unions, safety representatives and employers on many occasions. No central record of representations made during such meetings or elsewhere about the operation of the safety representatives and safety committees regulations is kept. The information sought is therefore not available. No enforcement action has yet been taken by inspectors.