HEALTH AND SAFETY AT WORK

Early day motion 1427, tabled 17 June 2003 by Brian H Donohoe (Labour). Signed by 112 members.

That this House notes the findings of the recent National Audit Office report into violence against NHS hospital and ambulance staff, which states that although progress has been made through the NHS zero tolerance zone campaign, work still needs to be done to ensure the safety of public sector workers; further notes that in a survey by UNISON 90 per cent. of traffic wardens and parking attendants said they had suffered some form of workplace violence, during the previous 12 months, over 12 per cent. were injured, 7 per cent. requiring medical treatment and 7 per cent. had to take time off work because of their injuries; believes it is unreasonable that police officers and ambulance workers can be assaulted in the same incident but when their cases come to court they are treated differently, believes that all workers are entitled to feel safe at work, and know that they have the full backing of the law; and therefore calls on the Government to establish a new offence of assaulting a public sector worker in the course of their duty, so that all public sector workers can be granted the same safety rights as their colleagues in the police force.

Signatures by party: Labour 96, Labour/Co-operative 8, Liberal Democrat 5, UUP 2, Plaid Cymru 1.