To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make it his policy to encourage the use of accident management software packages in places of work; and if he will make a statement.

The Health and Safety Commission places great emphasis on effective management for the control of work related health and safety risks. Accident management software packages are a potentially powerful tool in this context. In addition to encouraging accident monitoring and analysis by employers, the Health and Safety Executive has approved the use of copyright licensed computer generated forms for meeting employers' statutory accident and ill health reporting obligations under the Reporting of Injuries, Disease and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1985.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement concerning the approach of the Health and Safety Executive's accident prevention advisory unit to the use by employers of Accidata accident management software.

The Health and Safety Executive's accident prevention advisory unit through its contacts with employing organisations and its publications emphasises the importance of safety performance monitoring in the effective management of work-related health and safety risks. It supports the use of accident management software for this purpose and is familiar with the Accidata system, but it does not endorse particular systems.