Written question asked by Lord Bellingham (Conservative) on Wednesday, 18 June 2003, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 8 July 2003. It was answered by Lord Browne of Ladyton (Labour) on Tuesday, 8 July 2003 on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions.

Dept for Work and Pensions

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what regulatory impact assessment his Department has made of the Health and Safety Executive's new code of conduct on stress at work; what estimate his Department has made of the cost to business of compliance with the Health and Safety Executive's code of conduct to combat stress in (a) financial terms and (b) lost man hours.

Answer: Mr. Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what regulatory impact assessment his Department has made of the Health and Safety Executive's new code of conduct on stress at work; [121266] (2) what estimate his Department has made of the cost to business of compliance with the Health and Safety Executive's code of conduct to combat stress in (a) financial terms and (b) lost man hours. [121267] Mr. Browne: The Health and Safety Executive have not launched a new code of conduct on stress at work. On 16 June 2003, they published draft management standards on work related stress seeking feedback to inform their development. They are currently being piloted and the final standards will be published after consultation. The standards will be a voluntary yardstick by which employers can measure how well they are managing stress in the workplace. Information collected during the consultation phase will be used to inform development of the Regulatory Impact Assessment.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 408 c765W;408 c763W; 121266;121267
Session: 2002-03
Subjects: Codes of practice Costs Business Health and safety Health and Safety Executive Stress Impact assessments
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk