asked the Minister for Labour the number of people killed and injured in accidents at work in the past five years and his proposals, if any, to improve occupational safety and health.

This Government's proposals to improve occupational safety and health take three forms. First, despite the embargo on public service recruitment we have, exceptionally, augmented the number of industrial inspectors and occupational medical personnel.

Secondly, we are actively implementing the Safety in Industry Act, 1980 which, with its emphasis on safety management and on workplace mechanisms to involve employers and workers more closely in such management, devolve greater responsibility at the workplace level. We are also developing our code of statutory provisions to cover a wide range of occupational safety and health hazards.

Finally, as already indicated in my reply to Question No. 15 on yesterday's Order Paper we are giving urgent consideration to the Report of the Barrington Commission.

The detailed statistical information sought by the Deputy is in the form of a tabular statement which I propose to circulate in the Official Report.

Following is the tabular statement:

ACCIDENTS

*(Provisional)