Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the 11 individual issues were that were raised with the Health and Safety Executive by its inspectors concerning the classification of covid-19 as significant rather than serious with regards to Enforcement Management Model; and what the HSE's response was to each of the issues raised.

During her appearance before the Work and Pensions Select Committee, on Wednesday 17 March, the Chief of Executive of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) noted a number of items of feedback were provided to senior leaders of the Field Operations Division (FOD) of HSE, by members of the Prospect Trade Union via their Branch Council representative. The comments represented a mixture of issues and views, including in respect of the Enforcement Management Model (EMM) and its application to COVID-19. Individual responses were not provided to the comments raised. Instead, one response was put together with the aim of:

• correcting any misunderstandings as regards the policy position, concerning the application of the EMM to COVID-19;

• reminding Inspectors of previously issued internal guidance on the matter and;

• providing clarity as regards the unchanging support, for the use of Inspector discretion, should individual Inspectors come to a decision that a Prohibition Notice should be served to control an immediate risk associated with COVID-19.

The response referred to above was part of a wider internal communication, to HSE inspectors, aimed at providing support and reminding inspectors of the routes available to deal with specific regulatory challenges. It was shared with Trade Union representatives before it was shared with HSE inspectors.