PARLIAMENTARY EARLY DAY MOTION
HEALTH AND SAFETY WEEK OF ACTION CAMPAIGN (18 January 2011)

That this House is alarmed to note that, according to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), between April 2009 and March 2010, 152 people were fatally injured at work, 26,061 suffered major injuries at work and 1.3 million people who worked during the last year were suffering from an illness believed to be caused or made worse by their current or past work; notes that the actual figures are likely to be much higher, given that these statistics are an underestimate due to reporting inadequacies and that prosecutions and convictions for health and safety breaches were at a record low; is concerned that the current legislative and enforcement framework is failing to protect workers and that the Government's proposals contained in the Young Report, along with the budget cuts of 35 per cent. facing the HSE, not only fail to address the problem but will make things worse; and therefore welcomes the lobby of Parliament organised by the Trade Union Co-ordinating Group, comprising the Bakers, Food and Allied Workers Union, the Fire Brigades Union, the National Association of Probation Officers, the National Union of Journalists, the National Union of Teachers, the Public and Commercial Services Union, the Prison Officers Association, the Rail and Maritime Transport Union, the University and College Union and the United Road Transport Union on 2 March 2011 and that group's Health and Safety Week of Action between 28 February and 5 March 2011, calling on the Government to tighten legislation and improve enforcement to prevent anymore workplace tragedies.

Sponsored by:
John McDonnell (Independent)