Discussion: Paper 7

Mr M. Gry/fs (Member of Parliament)

It is only too easy to produce laws and regulations in the field of health and safety with which everyone agrees, but it is industry, local government and civil engineers who have to understand them, interpret them and work with them, and, of course it is industry which has to make a profit with them. The more we know about the reaction of industry and the professions to laws and regulations, and the greater the flow between us, the better.

In travelling around the country I find that people are increasingly aware that the frontiers of knowledge are moving ahead extremely rapidly, and those living near plants and on busy roads feel that they are living in dangerous places. Most big industrial and chemical companies who have got in touch with the people who live near their factories and plants and have told them in simple terms what is going on—that every industry has some hazards but that they are being as efficient as possible to minimize these—get a very good flow-back from the public. The feeling that people outside the factory gates should not be told what is going on is really out of date and should be discarded.