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HSC/E
argued that some limited legislative changes
are needed - on higher fines, corporate
killing and the removal of crown immunity.
The Department for Work and Pensions supports
HSC in promoting the case for higher fines,
and other more imaginative penalties. The
Department for Work and Pensions is working
with other Departments to progress the Government’s
commitments to reform the law on corporate
killing and to remove crown immunity for
health and safety offences. The Government
has been committed to introducing legislation
on corporate killing for some time. Private
Members Bills aimed at increasing penalties
for health and safety offences and to introduce
a new offence of corporate killing have
repeatedly failed. On 20 May 2003, the Government
announced that it would publish a draft
Bill. While this was expected by the end
of 2003 , it has yet to be produced. In
oral evidence, Mr Gareth Williams of the
Department for Work and Pensions told us
that the principle of introducing legislation
on corporate killing was agreed, although
it was important to ensure there was an
effective means of applying it. The principle
about whether and how to apply it to the
Crown had yet to be resolved. The Home Secretary
is hoping to publish a draft Bill before
the end of the session. The Committee
is concerned at the length of time it is
taking the Government to resolve any outstanding
issues concerning reforms of the law on
corporate killing and recommends that by
1 December 2004, the Government publishes
a Bill on corporate killing. |
