Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many actions the Health and Safety Executive took against companies for failing to meet personal protective equipment legal standards in the (a) 2022, (b) 2023 and (c) 2024 reporting year.

Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

The requirement to provide suitable and sufficient personal protective equipment is addressed in different health and safety legislation, including the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002, The Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005, The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012, The Personal Protection Equipment at Work Regulation 1992.

Where breaches of health and safety legislation are identified, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) will consider enforcement action in line with its Enforcement Policy Statement and Enforcement Management Model. Enforcement action includes verbal warnings, letters of Notification of Contravention, Enforcement Notices and prosecution.

The data provided below is the number of enforcement notices served for breaches of the Personal Protection Equipment at Work Regulation 1992. Information on all enforcement taken by HSE relating to the provision of personal protective equipment is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what percentage of injuries that occurred in the workplace were investigated by the Health and Safety Executive in the (a) 2022, (b) 2023 and (c) 2024 reporting year.

Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013 (RIDDOR) puts duties on employers and other people in charge of work premises to report and keep records of all work-related fatalities, work related injuries, diagnosed cases of reportable occupational diseases, and certain 'dangerous occurrences' (incidents with the potential to cause harm).

The purpose of RIDDOR is to inform the relevant enforcing authority (Health and Safety Executive (HSE), local authorities or other enforcing authorities) that a work-related accident or event has happened to enable an appropriate regulatory response where required. This is to ensure businesses maintain compliance with their duties and responsibilities under health and safety law.

HSE does not investigate everything that is reported. When a RIDDOR report is received, each report is considered against HSE’s published Incident Selection Criteria to help determine what will be investigated. Consideration is also given to the seriousness of the incident and the level of risk, or potential risk, that exists along with any previous enforcement history of the duty holder.

The following data is for RIDDOR reports received by the HSE relating to work-related fatalities, work related injuries (workers and non-workers) and over-7-day absences.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many checks of the adequacy of the provision of personal protective equipment were carried out by the Health and Safety Executive in the (a) 2022, (b) 2023 and (c) 2024 reporting year.

Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

The information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many fatalities occurred in the workplace in the (a) 2022, (b) 2023 and (c) 2024 reporting year.

Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013 (RIDDOR) puts duties on employers and other people in charge of work premises to report and keep records of all work-related fatalities, work related injuries, diagnosed cases of re-portable occupational diseases, and certain 'dangerous occurrences' (incidents with the potential to cause harm).

The table below shows the number of fatal injuries sustained in work-related accidents for both workers and members of the public in each of the last two financial years. Data for 2024/25 has not yet been finalised.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what percentage of injuries that occurred in the workplace and were investigated by the Health and Safety Executive involved inadequate provision of personal protective equipment the (a) 2022, (b) 2023 and (c) 2024 reporting year.

Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

The information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how many personal protective equipment products were tested against regulatory standards by the Office for Product Safety and Standards in the (a) 2022, (b) 2023 and (c) 2024 reporting year.

Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

Under UK law, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) manufacturers and importers are responsible for the compliance of PPE placed on the market. As an intelligence-led and risk-based national regulator, the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) prioritises its regulatory activity, which includes product testing, border targeting, market surveillance, enforcement and advice, to best tackle non-compliance and protect consumers. Numbers of notifications to OPSS and published product safety alerts and reports for non-compliant PPE since 2021 are:

During targeted PPE testing conducted by OPSS between October 2021 and September 2022, 276 out of 315 products did not meet regulatory requirements.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how many personal protective equipment products tested by the Office for Product Safety and Standards failed regulatory standards in the (a) 2022, (b) 2023 and (c) 2024 reporting year.

Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

Under UK law, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) manufacturers and importers are responsible for the compliance of PPE placed on the market. As an intelligence-led and risk-based national regulator, the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) prioritises its regulatory activity, which includes product testing, border targeting, market surveillance, enforcement and advice, to best tackle non-compliance and protect consumers. Numbers of notifications to OPSS and published product safety alerts and reports for non-compliant PPE since 2021 are:

During targeted PPE testing conducted by OPSS between October 2021 and September 2022, 276 out of 315 products did not meet regulatory requirements.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how many personal protective equipment products were tested by the Office for Product Safety and Standards in the (a) 2022, (b) 2023 and (c) 2024 reporting year.

Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

Under UK law, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) manufacturers and importers are responsible for the compliance of PPE placed on the market. As an intelligence-led and risk-based national regulator, the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) prioritises its regulatory activity, which includes product testing, border targeting, market surveillance, enforcement and advice, to best tackle non-compliance and protect consumers. Numbers of notifications to OPSS and published product safety alerts and reports for non-compliant PPE since 2021 are:

During targeted PPE testing conducted by OPSS between October 2021 and September 2022, 276 out of 315 products did not meet regulatory requirements.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how many personal protective equipment products were reported to the Office for Product Safety and Standards in the (a) 2022, (b) 2023 and (c) 2024 reporting year.

Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

Under UK law, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) manufacturers and importers are responsible for the compliance of PPE placed on the market. As an intelligence-led and risk-based national regulator, the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) prioritises its regulatory activity, which includes product testing, border targeting, market surveillance, enforcement and advice, to best tackle non-compliance and protect consumers. Numbers of notifications to OPSS and published product safety alerts and reports for non-compliant PPE since 2021 are:

During targeted PPE testing conducted by OPSS between October 2021 and September 2022, 276 out of 315 products did not meet regulatory requirements.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will endorse the new BS30417 standard on PPE.

Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The Government strongly supports the principle of provision of inclusive personal protective equipment (PPE). While the Government does not routinely endorse individual standards, it may designate certain standards to confer a presumption of conformity for regulatory purposes, or sponsor fast-track standards such as PAS and FLEX to support specific policy objectives.

BS 30417 is a guidance standard to help organisations procure inclusive and appropriate PPE. It does not set testing or design specifications and is not intended for designation under current product regulations.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many investigations the Health and Safety Executive undertook into companies for failing to meet personal protective equipment legal standards in the (a) 2022, (b) 2023 and (c) 2024 reporting year.

Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

The information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.

50 Years of the Linlithgow Union Canal Society

Black Scottish Awards 2025

Service of Union for Bo’ness Parish Church

50th anniversary of Drumchapel Community Credit Union

Strathcarron Hospice

UN International Year of Co-operatives

Found: Dunbartonshire) Jack Rankin (Conservative; Windsor) Elaine Stewart (Labour; Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock) Kirsteen Sullivan

Found: Members in attendance: • Patricia Ferguson MP • Susan Murray MP • Kirsteen Sullivan MP The Committee

No description available

The UK Government has committed to increase defence spending to 2.6% of GDP by 2027, with plans to reach 3% in the next Parliament. Given Scotland’s significant role in the UK’s defence sector, this inquiry will explore how Scotland’s economy and job market can benefit, particularly through the creation of highly skilled jobs. The Committee will examine existing skills gaps in the sector, how they can be addressed to maximise the economic impact of investment, and the UK Government’s role in supporting the creation and retention of the skilled jobs needed to grow the defence industry. It will also consider how Scotland can support the delivery of the Defence Industrial Strategy, the Ministry of Defence’s engagement with Scottish SMEs, which dominate the Scottish private sector, as well as the use of local supply chains.

Submit Evidence (by 12 Dec 2025)

Transport infrastructure plays an important role among island communities, supporting local economies and ensuring access to essential services. In Scotland, geographic barriers and limited transport options can restrict mobility and contribute to depopulation. This inquiry will examine the strategic case for permanent transport links—such as tunnels and bridges—between Scotland’s islands and assess whether there is a role for the UK Government in supporting such projects.