HC Deb 25 July 1984 vol 64 cc659-60W
Mr. Nellist

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the date, and cause of death, of each fatal accident on the youth opportunities programme and the youth training scheme from their inception to the present time.

Mr. Peter Morrison

[pursuant to his reply, 24 July 1984, c. 498]: The following is a list of fatalities on the youth opportunities programme and youth training scheme since 1 April 1979.

*Date of fatality †Cause of fatality
Youth Opportunities Programme
6th June 1979 Road traffic accident
27th September 1979 Road traffic accident
24th October 1980 Road traffic accident
27th November 1980 Clothing caught fire
27th January 1981 Electrocution involving overhead crane
13th March 1981 Hit by falling gas cylinder
16th June 1981 Trapped between vehicles
1st October 1981 Road traffic accident
2nd October 1981 Hit by falling wooden planks
24th November 1981 Road traffic accident
11th December 1981 Natural causes—clearing snow
8th January 1982 Fell from rope hoist
14th May 1982 Drowned during lunch break
16th July 1982 Tractor overturned on public highway
20th July 1982 Drowned during lunch break
14th October 1982 Clothing caught fire
2nd December 1982 Trapped in machinery
20th December 1982 Hit by moving machinery
24th March 1983 Road traffic accident
16th April 1983 Tractor accident
12th July 1983 Lunchtime swimming accident
Youth Training scheme
27th June 1983 Road traffic accident
7th September 1983 Accident on residential outdoor activity
12th October 1983 Forklift truck accident
1st February 1984 Tractor accident
* Information on the number and causes of fatalities on the youth opportunities programme prior to April 1979 is not available.
† Under the youth opportunities programme, the Manpower Services Commission's accident statistics included all trainee fatalities, even where such fatalities would not have been included in Health and Safety Executive figures had they involved employed persons. Of the 25 fatalities, seven were traffic accidents, three were swimming accidents during the lunch break and one occurred during recreational activities, 14 were industrial accidents related to work processes. Accident statistics for the youth training scheme are collected on a similar basis to those obtained by the Health and Safety Executive.

Mr. Nellist

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make it his practice to seek from coroners and sheriffs their report into each fatal accident on the youth opportunities programme and the youth training scheme.

Mr. Peter Morrison

[pursuant to his reply, 23 July 1984, c.[498]: The Manpower Services Commission obtains a coroner's or sherriff's report where this is likely to assist its investigation of a fatal accident.