§ Mrs. PeacockTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment, pursuant to his answer of 5 July,Official Report, column 56, if he will publish the independent legal advice that his Department has received on which he based his statement that section 2 of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 provides legal protection for employees at risk from passive smoking; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Michael ForsythThe Department is advised on matters relating to health and safety at work by the Health and Safety Executive. The HSE's advice on the application 475W of health and safety law to passive smoking in the workplace is set out in its guidance booklet, "Passive Smoking at Work", a copy of which has been placed in the Library.
§ Mrs. PeacockTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment, pursuant to his answer of 5 July,Official Report, column 56, if he will publish the results of the recent surveys which indicate progress towards realising the aim of having the large majority of employees covered by a no smoking policy by 1995; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Michael ForsythSummaries of surveys carried out in 1992 for the Health Education Authority and for the Health and Safety Executive have already been published. Further analysis of data from the HEA survey indicated that 52 per cent. of employees worked for organisations which took some action on smoking, and that 49 per cent. of the work force are in workplaces with a formal written smoking policy.