§ Mr. BarronTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment which of the duties or activities carried out by his full-time predecessor the part-time chairman of the Health and Safety Commission will not fulfil.
§ Mr. Michael ForsythIt is for the Health and Safety Commission chairman to decide how best to carry out his functions and duties within the time available.
The decision to make the chairman's appointment part-time reflected the loading of the post in current circumstances, including the appointment last year of a second full-time deputy director general of the Health and Safety Executive. This additional post will strengthen the senior management support available to the chairman, allowing the full responsibilities of leading the Commission to be managed without a full-time commitment.