§ Miss Richardsonasked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) whether Wormesley Boome Chemicals Ltd., Barking, has ever approached the Health and Safety Executive for advice on its operations;
(2) how often the premises of Wormesley Boome Chemicals Ltd., Barking have been inspected by the Health and Safety Executive since the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act came into force; when the last inspection was carried out; and whether a check was made to ensure that any recommendations were complied with;
(3) whether he has yet received the report of the Factory Inspectorate into the explosion which occurred at Wormesley Boome Chemicals Ltd., Barking, Wormesley on the night of 21 January;
(4) whether he will discuss with the Chemical Industries Association the procedure for notifying the Health and Safety Executive of the storage of hazardous materials;
(5) whether he will investigate the need for tighter precautions against explosions on the site of firms manufacturing, processing or storing hazardous materials, in the interests of public safety;
304W(6) whether, in view of the explosions on 21 January at the depot of Wormesley Boome Chemicals Ltd. which caused the evacuation of thousands of residents in Barking, he is satisfied that the required notifications to the Health and Safety Executive of materials stored are rigidly carried out;
(7) whether the Health and Safety Executive had up-to-date information about the content of materials stored at Wormesley Boome Chemicals Ltd., River Road, Barking, prior to explosions which took place there on 21 January; and to whom it had transmitted the information;
(8) whether the Health and Safety Executive has up-to-date and detailed knowledge of the contents of industrial premises storing hazardous materials; and whether they pass this information to the fire service and to local authorities.
§ Mr. MayhewI will reply to the hon. Member as soon as possible.