§ Dr. MurrisonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what his responsibility is for the health and safety of his Department's staff deployed abroad; [66108]
(2) what his policy is on health and safety in British embassies. [66110]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienThe FCO's policy on the Health and Safety of its staff is the same both at home and overseas that is to keep staff safe at work, so far as is reasonably practicable. Statutory duties under UK law (eg the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 1994) do not apply overseas. However, as a good employer, the FCO accepts its responsibility to try to provide the same duty of care to all its employees.