asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many directors, managers, company secretaries and other employees, respectively, have been sentenced to terms of imprisonment for offences committed under the Health and Safety at Work, etc. Act, the Factories Act, the Offices, Shops and Railway Premises Act or regulations made under these Acts during each of the years 1975 to 1977, respectively.

I am advised by the Chairman of the Health and Safety Commission that no persons have been sentenced to terms of imprisonment for offences committed under the Health and Safety at Work Act, the Factories Act, the Offices, Shops and Railway Premises Act or Regulations made under these Acts in the years 1975 to 1977.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the maximum and what was the average fine imposed on persons convicted of offences under the Health and Safety at Work, etc. Act, the Factories Act, the Offices, Shops and Railway Premises Act or regulations made under these Acts during each of the years 1975 to 1977, respectively.

The chairman of the Health and Safety Commission advises me that the information is not available in the precise form requested. The following table, however, shows the number of informations laid by HSE inspectorates under these Acts and the average penalty per information laid. The number of informations includes those which were subsequently dismissed. Since the hulk of prosecutions under the Offices, Shops and Railway Premises Act are initiated by local authority inspectors for

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what discussions he is having with the Health and Safety Commission about the effect of Crown immunity in court on the application of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 in the National Health Service; and whether it is his intention to ensure that such immunity is withdrawn so that the enforcement provision of the Act can apply generally to the National Health Service.

I shall reply to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.