HEALTH AND SAFETY AT WORK: DIRECTIVES

HL Deb 11 October 1994 vol 557 c105WA

Lord Pearson of Rannoch

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will list the directives issued or under consideration by the European Commission which govern health and safety at work and upon which the United Kingdom has been or can be outvoted, and to reveal what value, if any, they still place upon the United Kingdom's opt out from the social chapter.

Lord Inglewood

The Single European Act 1986 gave the Community new legislative powers governing health and safety at work on which qualified majority voting (QMV) applies. This situation was not affected by the social chapter nor by the UK Government's opt-out from it. The UK Government have not been outvoted on any of the directives on health and safety at work adopted under Article 118A. Proposals for further directives on health and safety at work are currently under consideration in the following areas: Transport workplaces, physical agents, chemical agents, and the use of work equipment.