Penalties Bill

Penalties Bill

A private member Bill which aimed to increase penalties for health and safety offences failed to get its second reading after less that the required quorum of 40 MPs turned up to vote. Although the Bill had government support it was not given a government time slot so ended up being debated on a Friday, after most MPs had returned to their constituencies. This is the latest in a series of private members' Bills that have sought to increase penalties since the Government committed itself to supporting such a move in 2000, yet all have failed because of lack of time, or the lack of a quorum.

• Hansard debate