§ Mr. JannerTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether she will introduce legislation to reduce or to remove Crown immunity against prosecutions for offences under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.
§ Mr. McLoughlinThe citizens charter recognised that Government activities should not be immune from
144Wprogrammes funded by the Employment Department through the Employment Service and training and enterprise councils. This is conditional, however, on their meeting the relevant eligibility criteria for the programmes and services in question which apply to United Kingdom nationals. Having entered a programme, non-United Kingdom European Community nationals have a full entitlement to complete it.
§ Mr. Harry GreenwayTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many young people are currently on youth training schemes; what were the numbers in comparable schemes five, 10 and 15 years ago; and if she will make a statement.
§ Mr. McLoughlinThe latest estimates for the number of young people on YT or receiving training credits is 295,800 at March 1992. Before 1978–79, Government-sponsored schemes were not aimed specifically at providing training for young people comparable with YTS/YT and thus there are no separate figures for 15 years ago. The table gives the number of young people for the other periods asked for.
inspection and enforcement on matters such as health and safety regulations. The Crown is already required to comply with the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, and the relevant statutory provisions. Crown bodies are inspected to that end, and there is provision for a Crown notice procedure. The Crown remains immune from criminal prosecution and there are no plans to change that position. However, the adequacy of the current Crown notice procedure is under review, in line with the principles outlined in the citizens charter.