§ Mr. Harry BarnesTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will ask the Health and Safety Executive to conduct an inquiry into the impact on employees of the use of aspogillus citric acid extraction plants; and if he will make a statement on current information held by his Department on any respiratory problems.
466Wfar. In its social action programme the Commission indicates some areas of action without specifying the type of instrument which it intends to propose. Such proposals have not been included in the table.
(In column (b) of the table: U stands for unanimity and QMV for qualified majority voting)
Mr. JacksonThe Health and Safety Executive's (HSE) field operations division is aware of only one plant in Great Britain where aspergillus niger is used in the manufacture of citric acid. HSE inspectors will make an inspection visit to the plant in the near future to check on compliance by the company with the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and associated legislation and review the precautions taken to safeguard the health of employees.
467WHSE is currently aware of respiratory problems suffered by one employee of a contracting company who was employed at the plant in 1990.