Mr. Gareth R. ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what further action the Government are intending to take to tackle work-related stress disorders. [415]
§ Dr. WhiteheadI have been asked to reply.
The Health and Safety Commission has a comprehensive strategy and programme of work to prevent work-related stress and hence the disorders arising from it.
In partnership with other agencies, both within Government and outside, it will develop clear, agreed standards of good management practice for preventing a range of work-related stressors; better equip health and safety inspectors to handle the issue in their routine work; facilitate a more comprehensive approach to managing work-related stress; run a publicity drive to help educate employers about what they can and should be doing to prevent work-related stress; and develop yardsticks against which employers' performance can be measured.
As part of this strategy, new guidance from the Health and Safety Executive called "Tackling Work-related Stress—a Managers' Guide to Improving and Maintaining Employee Health and Well-being", was published on 25 June 2001. A copy of the guidance has been placed in the Library of the House.