Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 will apply within freeports; and what recent discussion she has had with Cabinet colleagues on health and safety regulation within freeports.

The Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 applies to ports and guidance on how to manage the main causes of injury and ill health in those settings is published by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) at Health and safety in ports and docks - HSE. Freeports across Great Britain, when established as secure customs zones will not be treated any differently from other ports from a health and safety perspective.

Risks associated with warehousing operations, moving vehicles, lifting operations or storage of hazardous substances are examples of the areas that freeport operators, whether state or private enterprise, will be required to effectively plan for and control.