§ Mr. Skinnerasked the Secretary of State for Employment how many prohibition orders were issued by each Health 2W and Safety Executive area under (a) the 1969 asbestos regulations, for each year 1971 to 1980 ; how many were successful and what was the fine in each case and (b) the general health regulations.
§ Mr. MayhewThe table below shows the number of prohibition notices issued by the Factory Inspectorate for offences relating to health in workplaces, and the number issued for offences against the 1969 asbestos regulations in the years 1975 to 1978—most, if not all, of the latter will be included in the former. All the notices issued for offences against the asbestos regulations were complied with. Figures for notices issued in 1979 are not yet available.
The notice procedure was introduced in the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 ; there is no provision in the Act for penalties, for which prosecution is required.
No area analysis is readily available, and its provision would involve disproportionate costs. If the hon. Member can indicate specific areas of interest, I shall write to him giving the information that can be produced.
PROHIBITION NOTICES* ISSUED BY HMFI FOR HEALTH OFFENCES 1971–79 All health offences Offences against Asbestos Regulations 1969 1975 132 71 1976 196 129 1977 135 47 1978† 118 34 * Including deferred prohibition notices. †Provisional.
§ Mr. Skinnerasked the Secretary of State for Employment how many prosecutions have been carried out in each Health and Safety Executive area under (a) the 1969 asbestos regulations, in each year from 1971 to 1980 ; how many were successful and what was the fine in each case and (b) the general health regulations.
§ Mr. MayhewThe table below shows the number of informations laid by the Factory Inspectorate for offences relating to health in workplaces, and the number of informations laid under the 1969 asbestos regulations, with the number of 3W convictions and the average fine, in each year from 1971 to 1979. Most, if not all, of the offences against the asbestos regulations will be included in the figures in the first column.
Details of fines for individual cases and a full area analysis could be provid-
Prosecutions by HMFI for health offences 1971–79 Offences against Asbestos Regulations 1969 All health offences—informations laid Informations laid Convictions Average fine per information laid £ 1971 … … 198 1 1 .. 1972 … … 289 44 40 .. 1973 … … 308 19 15 .. 1974 … … 301 45 39 .. 1975 … … 143 32 22 79 1976 … … 141 35 23 45 1977 … … 219 90 84 182 1978 … … 138 40 37 87 1979(p) … 109 12 7 31 .. Not available (p) Provisional