HC Deb 26 February 1988 vol 128 c337W
Mr. Allen

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment why no prosecutions were undertaken in the period covered by the Mines and Quarries Inspectorate's report for the period ended March 1986 in the light of the number of accidents therein reported.

Mr. Nicholls

The Health and Safety Executive's inspectors make use of a range of enforcement techniques from advice and persuasion, through the issues of enforcement notices to prosecution. Prosecution is regarded as the last resort and was not judged to be appropriate in any case during this period.