Corporate Manslaughter Bill Under Threat

On 22 May, the proposed law received a serious setback when the government was defeated in the Lords over plans to exclude prisons from its Corporate Manslaughter Bill. If this issue is not resolved by a 17 July deadline, the bill is out of time and cannot be passed.

Peers voted by a majority of 91 to reinstate their amendment saying the offence of corporate manslaughter must apply to people who die in custody. This change was previously rejected by the Commons.

Under government plans the new offence of corporate manslaughter would apply when a person's death is caused by company negligence.

However, ministers want to exclude prisons and police.

But opponents say those held in custody deserve the same legal protection as employees and customers.

The government has offered concessions, including the possibility of bringing prisons and police under the new rules at some later date, but this has failed to persuade peers.

Liberal Democrat spokesman Lord Lee said: "I welcome today's vote. I hope that the government starts to listen soon about this important piece of legislation.

"The government must allow deaths in custody to be covered by this bill now, rather than holding out the promise of allowing deaths in custody to be covered at some point in the future."

The TUC expressed 'grave concern' at the stalemate. Hugh Robertson, TUC's head of health and safety, said: "Both sides in this quarrel must remember that this is was intended to be about workplace deaths and find an early compromise that ensures that this legislation reaches the statute book as soon as possible."

Unions are also pressing for explicit legal safety duties on directors, backed by meaningful penalties for failure to comply. These measures are not included in the current corporate manslaughter bill.

Source: BBC News On-Line, TUC Risks


 
 
Icon: back to news
 

Designed, Hosted and Maintained by Union Safety Services