§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Employment, pursuant to his reply, Official Report, 26 March, column 285, what conclusions he drew from his discussion with the Health and Safety Commission about 399W public disclosures by the Health and Safety Executive of information about the location of hazardous substances; if he has any plans to amend section 28 of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. GummerThe chairman of the Health and Safety Commission has informed me that the commission supports the recommendation of the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution that the law should be changed to facilitate the disclosure of information about emissions to th atmosphere. However, the commission is to examine further the possibilities for more extensive disclosure of information about other aspects of health and safety matters of interest to the public, having due regard to the considerations of commercial confidentiality, and it hopes to publish a consultative document later this year.