HC Deb 13 February 1985 vol 73 cc185-6W
Mr. Fatchett

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the latest available figures reported under the Health and Safety at Work Act on the number of accidents at work involving children under the age of 16 years in paid part-time employment.

Mr. Alan Clark

Records available to the Health and Safety Executive of injuries reported to enforcing authorities under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act for 1982 (the latest year for which figures are readily available) show 629 injuries to children under 16 reported to be in employment.

Over half of this total refers to children at school. About one-fifth of the total is estimated to involve children actually in employment: the rest arise from misreporting of injuries to non-employed children. Returns from local authorities are incomplete.