Occupational Health Services
Debate between Lord Freud and Baroness Fookes(12 years, 2 months ago)
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Lord Freud
As you know, my Lords, I always find it difficult to say what the Chancellor may or may not do at any time in the future, so I will avoid that. However, I will point out that there was a recommendation in the sickness absence review to have some of those services tax-allowed by the employer. The recommendation is there and we will clearly look at it.
Baroness Fookes
My Lords, my noble friend will, I am sure, be aware of the pioneering work undertaken by Tomorrow’s People in putting employment advisers into doctors’ surgeries entirely on a voluntary basis. Is he happy with the extent to which this now exists, or could more be done?
Lord Freud
My Lords, various pilots, in particular those around putting employment advisers into improving psychotherapy services—the IAPT—seemed to go very well indeed. Clearly, having obtained that intelligence, we will be moving in that direction. I have talked a lot about pilots and trials in this area. It is rather recent that as a state we have begun to look at helping people to stay in work as part of the solution rather than keeping them out of work. That is why some of this is quite new and we are finding our way in this area.
Health and Safety at Work
Debate between Lord Freud and Baroness Fookes(13 years, 1 month ago)
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Lord Freud
I should be happy to write a full letter on that point. In conclusion, I am confident that our health and safety changes are a force for good, ensuring that civil justice and health and safety law are applied sensibly. The emphasis should be on addressing real risks and preventing death, injury and ill health to those at work and those affected by work-related activities. I have said before that we will not make the United Kingdom a safer place by wrapping everyone in cotton wool and avoiding all risk; we will do it by delivering a health and safety system that is fair, balanced and proportionate.
The Deputy Chairman of Committees (Baroness Fookes)
My Lords, the Committee stands adjourned until 4.30 pm.