§ Mr. CorbynTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment what action his Department is taking to ensure adequate health and safety standards in bed-and-breakfast hotels; what is being done to ensure that all hotels used for the accommodation of homeless families are upgraded to higher standards; and how often bed-and-breakfast hotels are visited and inspected by environmental health officers to ensure that they are upgraded to desirable standards.
§ Mr. ForthUnder the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (HSWA) it is the employer's responsibility to do everything that is reasonably practicable to protect the health and safety of workers and others who may be affected by his work activity.
Local authorities are responsible for enforcing the HSWA in bed-and-breakfast hotels. The frequency of visits and inspections is at the enforcing authority's discretion. No information is available centrally on the frequency of such visits.