HL Deb 30 July 1985 vol 467 cc259-60WA
Lord Winstanley

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will hold a public inquiry under Section 14 of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 to establish the extent to which failures by Bexley London Borough, Bexley Health Authority, the South East Thames Regional Health Authority and employees thereof were responsible for the death on 6th July 1984 at Bexley Hospital of Isabel Schwarz, a social worker employed at the hospital.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health and Social Security (Baroness Trumpington)

I understand that the London Borough of Bexley Social Services Department is in the final stages of an internal inquiry on the circumstances leading to the death of Isabel Schwarz. It will be the responsibility of the London Borough of Bexley to consider the findings of that inquiry. Bexley Health Authority is responsible for security in Bexley Hospital and has made a number of improvements following an internal review.