HL Deb 04 February 1997 vol 577 c141WA
Lord Cochrane of Cults

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What annual reduction in fatalities they expect will result from the introduction of the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 1996 (SI 1996/2541).

The Minister of State, Department of the Environment (Earl Ferrers)

The primary purpose of the second amendment to the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1994 (as amended) is to promote greater compliance by relevant landlords with their duties under those regulations to provide safe gas installations for their tenants to use. Prevention of one fatality per year as a result of the amendment is estimated to yield an annual present value benefit of around £0.8 million.

Lord Cochrane of Cults

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will consider simplifying the requirements of the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 1996 for let property other than that which is defined as being in multiple occupancy.

Earl Ferrers

The Health and Safety Commission is at present reviewing the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1994 (as amended) and, as part of that review, is considering what changes to the duties which are enjoined on relevant landlords by Regulation 35A may be desirable and practical. It is, though, not the commission's intention to alter the basic requirement of Regulation 35A that relevant landlords must make available to their tenants written evidence that annual safety checks on gas appliances and flues have been carried out.

The commission intends to issue this spring a consultative document on the outcome of its review, with the aim of advising the Government on changes to the regulations in the latter part of 1997.