§ Mr. LaxtonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to mark the 25 anniversary of the laying of the Health and Safety at Work, etc. Act 1974. [79664]
§ Mr. PrescottI intend to take forward a strategic appraisal of health and safety to mark the 25th anniversary of the Health and Safety at Work, etc. Act 1974. This legislation has delivered significant improvement in standards of health and safety at work. But we cannot be complacent: people continue to lose their lives and suffer serious injury at work. Not only does this have a terrible human cost, but it also jeopardises the competitiveness of our economy.
It is not my intention to revisit the basic structures of the Act, but I want to inject new impetus and relaunch the health and safety agenda. We also need to make sure that our approach to regulation continues to be appropriate 587W for the changing world of work as we enter the next millennium, but without simply adding new and unnecessary regulatory burdens to business, especially small and medium-sized enterprises. Our aim must be to reduce the rate of workplace accidents and ill-health still further, crucially by working with all stakeholders to demonstrate that a healthy, well protected workforce is not only right, but is good for business and good for society.
I will launch a public consultation document, jointly with the Health and Safety Commission, in the summer to open up a debate on this important issue.