§ Mr. Michieasked the Secretary of State for Employment if any steps have been taken, or are to be taken in the near future, to ensure that sponsors or managing agents have statutory obligations under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 in respect of trainees on youth training schemes.
§ Mr. Peter MorrisonSponsors and managing agents already have substantial responsibilities under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 towards trainees on the youth training scheme. However, to bring the full powers of the Act as well as other health and safety legislation to bear on this scheme the Health and Safety Commission has announced its intention of bringing forward proposals for regulations which will have the effect of putting YTS trainees on the same footing as employees.
§ Mr. Michieasked the Secretary of State for Employment if any steps have been taken or are to be taken in the near future to ensure that all sponsors or managing agents of youth training schemes are registered with the Health and Safety Executive.
§ Mr. Peter MorrisonRegistration with the appropriate enforcing authority is required under the Offices Shops and Railway Premises Act, and also under the Factories Act, for building sites expected to last six weeks or more and for factories. Registration is not a requirement of the Health and Safety at Work Act itself.
The Manpower Services Commission is at present investigating the feasibility of making it a condition of contract with managing agents that they should place trainees in premises or activities requiring registration only where they are satisfied that registration has been carried out.
§ Mr. Michieasked the Secretary of State for Employment if arrangements have been made to ensure that all trainees on youth training schemes have been and are issued with a copy of "What Should I Know About Health and Safety at Work?".
§ Mr. Peter MorrisonThe Manpower Services Commission has arranged for all trainees on youth training schemes to receive a copy of a new booklet "Working Safety on the Youth Training Scheme" through the organisation providing their training.
§ Mr. Nellistasked the Secretary of State for Employment what steps he has taken to ensure that sponsors of the youth training scheme, managing agents and the Manpower Services Commission are carrying out their obligations in relation to the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.
§ Mr. Peter MorrisonI am satisfied that the Manpower Services Commission is doing all it reasonably can to fulfil its obligations to trainees under the health and Safety at Work Act by bringing home to managing agents and sponsors their duties to protect traines' health and safety. This it does, inter alia, by providing booklets containing safety advice and by drawing up contractual conditions for YTS schemes which stress obligations under the Act. In compiling the booklets and forms of contract, it has had continuing advice from the Health and Safety Executive.
47WHSE staff must give inspection priority to known workplaces and activities of high hazard but they investigate accidents and complaints and respond to requests for advice.
But none of this activity by MSC or HSE should be taken to detract from the primary responsibility of those actually providing the training and work experience under the YTS to comply with health and safety legislation since they and only they have control of the premises and plant.
§ Mr. Nellistasked the Secretary of State for Employment what steps he has taken to ensure that young people entering the youth training scheme receive adequate information on health and safety at work.
§ Mr. Peter MorrisonThe Manpower Services Commission has made arrangements for providers of training to issue the leaflet "Working Safely on the Youth Training Scheme" to all young people at the commencement of their training programme. Providers of training are further reminded of the need to give health and safety information in the commission publications "Health and Safety on the Youth Training Scheme", the handbook for managing agents, and the handbooks for information technology centres and for training workshops.
§ Mr. Nellistasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will take measures to ensure that youth training scheme sponsors fulfil their contractual obligations to report all accidents involving youth trainees to the Manpower Services Commission.
§ Mr. Peter MorrisonI am satisfied that providers of training in the youth training scheme are meeting their contractual obligation to report accidents involving youth trainees.
§ Mr. Nellistasked the Secretary of State for Employment what steps he has taken to ensure that workplaces of potential sponsors of the youth training scheme are properly inspected with regard to standards of health and safety.
§ Mr. GummerThe Health and Safety Executive and its factory inspectorate inspect premises, including those where youth training scheme trainees are present, according to a system of risk-related priorities, and endeavour to visit promptly new workplaces where there is likely to be a significant level of risk.