Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps the Government is taking to prevent accidents at funfairs and amusement parks.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has a dedicated National Fairground Inspection Team (NFIT) which enforces health and safety law at fairgrounds and theme parks in Great Britain. The NFIT work plan for 2106/17 targets proactive inspection of fairground rides with known problems and other areas of higher risk.

NFIT inspectors also investigate accidents and complaints. They have a range of options available to hold poor performers to account, including enforcement notices and prosecution for the most serious breaches of the law. Any lessons learned from these investigations are communicated to the industry.

HSE is also working with national industry bodies, which collectively make up the Amusement Devices Safety Council, to maintain and where necessary, improve health and safety standards and practices across the industry. HSE is currently working with one of those bodies, the British Association Leisure Parks Piers and Attractions, on an initiative aimed at improving risk management at theme parks.