§ Mr. MeacherTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the level of fines imposed on each of the largest 100 companies for health and safety offences in the last five years; what was the nature of the accident and the date in each case; and how many persons were killed or seriously injured or suffered minor injuries on each occasion.
§ Mr. Nicholls[holding answer 29 June 1989]: The information requested could be supplied only at disproportionate cost.
76W
§ Mr. PatchettTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list for each year since 1974(a) the number of prosecutions of (i) managers, (ii) supervisors and (iii) company directors and (b) the fines under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.
§ Mr. Nicholls[holding answer 29 June 1989]: Available data do not differentiate between offences committed by managers, supervisors and company directors. The tables list the convictions obtained under section 36 and section 37 of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. Section 36 provides for the prosecution of a person whose act, or inaction, has led another individual to commit an offence under the Act. Section 37 provides for the prosecution of a director, manager, secretary or similar officer of a body corporate for offence committed by that body corporate. Information is not available for years before 1981.
Prosecutions under section 36 since 1981 Year1 Convictions3 Average penalty per conviction (£) 1981 — — 1982 6 158 1983 7 275 1984 7 300 1985 9 500 19862 3 417 1986–87 9 156 1987–88 9 261
Prosecutions under section 37 since 1981 Year1 Convictions3 Average penalty per conviction (£) 1981 7 179 1982 11 293 1983 6 221 1984 6 208 1985 11 218 19862 1 300 1986–87 5 400 1987–88 4 188 1 1981 to 1985—calendar year. 1986–87 onwards—year commencing 1 April. 2 January to March. 3 Data covers convictions obtained by the Factory and Agriculture Inspectorates (the vast majority of cases).
§ Mr. PatchettTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list, for each year since 1974, the number of prosecutions of employees, and the outcome, under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.
§ Mr. Nicholls[holding answer 29 June 1989]: The table lists for each year since 1981, the number of convictions and average fines under section 7 of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, which imposes a duty on every employee while at work to take reasonable care for the health and safety of himself and of other persons who may be affected by his acts or omissions. Information is not available for years before 1981.
77W
Convictions under section 7 of the HSW Act 1Year 2Convictions Average penalty per conviction (£) 1981 19 81 1982 21 112 1983 29 104 1984 23 118 1985 30 209 Jan-March 1986 7 64 1986–87 21 132 1987–88 27 183 1 1981–85—calendar years. 1986–87 onwards—year commencing 1 April. 2 Data covers convictions obtained by the Factory and Agriculture Inspectorates (the vast majority of cases).