§ Mr. Colvinasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will introduce legislation to amend the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act so that normal English summer temperatures may not be regarded as causing unfit working conditions in offices.
§ Mr. GummerSection 6 of the Offices, Shops and Railway Premises Act 1963 requires that a reasonable temperature is maintained in every room in which people are employed other than for short periods. Except in quite unusual and extreme circumstances, English summer weather will not produce unreasonable working conditions in offices. It is almost invariably an abuse if high temperatures are taken as an excuse for not working, especially if the public are inconvenienced.