§ Mr. Cryerasked the Secretary of State for Employment how many (a) improvement and (b) prohibition orders under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 have been issued to ensure compliance with section 6 of that Act in 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980 and 1981, respectively.
§ Mr. WaddingtonI am advised by the chairman of the Health and Safety Commission that the Health and Safety Executive issued notices specifically associated with section 6 of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 as shown in the following table for each of the years 1976 to 1979 inclusive:
Improvement Notices Prohibition Notices 1976 7 4 1977 17 16 1978 17 10 1979 32 7 The figures for 1980 are not comparable with those for earlier years, because, unlike the figures for earlier years, they relate only to the number of notices on which action was completed during 1980. Changes were made in the records system at the end of the year and complete figures will not be available for 1980 and are not yet available for 1981.
§ Mr. Cryerasked the Secretary of State for Employment, pursuant to the reply to the hon. Member for Keighley of 23 December, Official Report, c. 455, regarding the enforcement of section 6 of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, how many Health and Safety Executive inspectors are employed at ports examining manufactured goods which are imported prior to being put to use.
§ Mr. WaddingtonNone.
Enforcement of section 6 is achieved by HSE inspectors visiting the premises of manufacturers, designers, suppliers, importers and users.
§ Mr. Cryerasked the Secretary of State for Employment on how many occasions in 1980 and 1981 100W Health and Safety Executive inspectors required section 6(4) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 to be complied with in regard to imported goods.
§ Mr. WaddingtonI am advised by the chairman of the Health and Safety Commission that data are not available for the occasions on which Health and Safety Executive inspectors required section 6(4) to be implemented because those occasions include those on which enforcement notices were issued as well as other forms of action, for example where letters were sent or oral advice was given.
I am replying separately to the hon. Member in respect of notices issued under section 6. However, it is not possible to distinguish between data relating to imported goods and others.