Clause 1
Health and Safety (Offences) Bill
10:15 am
Like other hon. Members, I would like to express my sense of privilege and pleasure in serving on the Committee.
I shall be brief, as much has already been said, and many considerations covered. However, this matter is extremely important, particularly to those who have suffered as a consequence of health and safety failures. I am concerned that the Bill affects only England, Scotland and Wales, and I question why it has not been extended to Northern Ireland, or why Northern Ireland is exempt, because there are serious problems with health and safety failures there.
There was a particularly bad accident in the last couple of weeks, in which scaffolding and a new building collapsed. Concrete was being poured on to the top floor, and the whole thing collapsed in a concertina effect through the building. Six building workers were trapped and seriously injured underneath it all. Someone must be responsible. Luckily, none of those people died, although they were badly injured and still have not recovered.
Perhaps I should have tabled an amendment, but I am keen that the Bill should be extended to include the safety of our building workers and others in Northern Ireland. It is an extremely important issue, and we do not want a lower standard of health and safety than is enjoyed in the UK generally.