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MPs from the UK's three main political parties will be pressing the case for a new law against corporate killing, promised in Labour's 2001 General Election Manifesto, at a meeting in the House of Commons today (Tuesday March 11 2003).
A new briefing on corporate killing law will be launched at the meeting by safety groups. And an Early Day Motion on the subject has been tabled to allow MPs to register their support for a new law.
Andrew Dismore MP said:
"It's time Parliament debated corporate killing. I hope the Government will give a clear indication of what they will do to implement the manifesto commitment."
Thousands of postcards will arrive at 10 Downing Street in the next few weeks asking Tony Blair why his Government has delayed enacting a new offence of Corporate Killing, and "bring to justice the corporate criminals".
The Postcard campaign - which has been organised by the Hazards Campaign, the Hazards Magazine and the Centre for Corporate Accountability - is also directed at David Blunkett (the Home office Minister), Nick Brown, (the Safety Minister) and local MPs. Hilda Palmer of the Hazards Campaign said: "The postcard campaign is intended to remind the Government and MPs the strength of feeling throughout the country about its failure both to enact a new offence of Corporate Killing - which had been promised five years ago - as well as to impose safety duties upon company directors."
Since Labour came into power in May 1997 over 2000 workers and members of the public have died in work-related incidents, as well as the Southall, Paddington, Hatfield and Potter's Bar disasters. Many of these deaths would have resulted in a company or organisation being prosecuted for 'Corporate Killing' had the Government acted on its promise. Moreover, many of these deaths would never have happened if the new offence existed. A report, published last week by the HSE, says that the new offence of Corporate Killing would "act as a powerful deterrence to help prevent needless injuries and deaths whilst at the same time punishing the grossly negligent." The four postcards are being distributed to trade unions, safety groups, and bereaved families. Hazards magazine will also be distributing over 40,000 cards for use by its trade union safety representative subscribers. A webpage has also been set up that will allow members of the public to send an e-mail post card to the Prime Minister or their Local MP.
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