HC Deb 24 July 1987 vol 120 cc670-1W
Mr. Cryer

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the number of (a) improvement and (b) prohibition notices issued under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and the number of prosecutions for breach of the Act and associated regulations by the Health and Safety Commission for each year from 1975 to 1986.

Mr. Cope

The table shows the available information for 1975 to 1985. Data for 1986 are not yet available.

Number of:
Year (a) (b) (c)
improvement notices prohibition notices prosecutions (cases heard)
1975 5,149 2,450 1,588
1976 7,499 2,534 1,327
1977 9,253 3,130 1,623
1978 12,217 3,434 1,671
1979 13,517 3,674 1,373
1980 12,625 3,238 1,443
1981 12,321 3,185 1,260
1982 13,034 3,266 1,427
1983 12,268 3,805 1,366
1984 12,237 3,737 1,269
1985 11,052 3,479 1,286
(a), (b) all improvement and prohibition notices, including those issued by local authorities.
(c) prosecutions taken by enforcing authorities, excluding those taken by local authorities.

Mr. Cryer

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list those responsibilities set out in regulations made under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 which are enforced by local authorities; and if he will give the dates when these responsibilities were given.

Mr. Cope

Under the Health and Safety (Enforcing Authority) Regulations 1977, local authorities are responsible for enforcing all relevant statutory provisions, as defined in section 53 of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, in premises where the main activity is one specified in schedule 1 to the Health and Safety (Enforcing Authority) Regulations 1977, subject to certain exceptions set out in regulation 4. These regulations came into operation on 1 June 1977. Schedule 1 was amended by regulations which came into operation on 29 December 1980 and 1 October 1985.