Corporate manslaughter law may never happen, unions fear

Unions have welcomed the announcement of a new corporate manslaughter law, but are disappointed about the timetable for its implementation.

The government announced in the Queen's Speech that a draft bill would be published in the next parliamentary session, but this is no guarantee that it will become law.

With a general election next year, only a select few of the bills announced will actually be heard.

"After seven years of waiting, we're pleased to see a draft corporate manslaughter bill finally make it into the Queen's Speech," said Dave Joyce, health and safety officer at the CWU communication workers' union. "I hope that the proposed new legislation will have a profound impact on those directors and managers who fail to ensure the health and safety of the workforce and the public."

Derek Simpson, general secretary of the professional union Amicus, was less complimentary, saying: "A draft bill represents serious slippage in terms of time - we had expected a corporate manslaughter bill in the parliament just gone or at least before the election."

Unions were also disappointed that the bill will not impose duties on individual directors.

"The government are right to take action, but legislation must be effective and hold individual directors responsible," said Tony Woodley, general secretary of the T&G general union. "Our experience in industries such as construction shows that fines alone do not change health and safety culture." He added that the bill should also apply to Crown bodies.

* An offence of "corporate homicide" could be introduced in Scotland. The Scottish Executive will publish a consultation paper in the new year, putting forward options for changes to the law.