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Health and Safety (Offences) Bill

Of course it is a sticky issue, but in my opinion it would not be sensible to exclude an employee from the measures in the Bill, because I have no doubt that a disreputable employer would quickly find someone who was employed in the company to, as they say, take the rap on the Bill. They would put the blame on them and say, ““I gave the right advice, but sadly my employee—the manager—did not follow it.”” To allow that would be a mistake because it would send the wrong message. Let us remember that this is a pro-business Bill. On the whole, we are talking about really good employers who care about the people in their work force, but we know—we are not stupid—that there are people out there who do not.