CORPORATE MANSLAUGHTER

Early day motion 793, tabled 27 February 2003 by Andrew Dismore (Labour). Signed by 142 members.

That this House regrets that since 1997, over 2000 workers and members of the public have died in work-related incidents, as well as the Southall, Paddington, Hatfield and Potters Bar disasters; notes that during the same period only four companies and two directors have been convicted of the offence of manslaughter and that these were all small firms; recalls that the Law Commission recommended a new offence of corporate manslaughter in 1996 to hold large as well as small undertakings to account for causing death through grossly negligent failures of management; believes that such an offence would increase the accountability of directors and their equivalents, and encourage better safety standards in undertakings; and calls on the Government to put before Parliament measures to enact a new offence of corporate manslaughter as soon as possible.

Signatures by party: Labour 108, Liberal Democrat 17, Labour/Co-operative 12, Plaid Cymru 3, Conservative 2.