The Government is considering bringing forward legislation to remove a 1000-year-old law protecting crown servants from prosecution for actions carried out in the course of their jobs.
The move would mean that civil servants and their departments would be liable for criminal charges for health and safety lapses.

George Brumwell, general secretary of UCATT, said home secretary David Blunkett intended to propose the change in the consultation process leading up to the publication of a corporate manslaughter bill.

A source close to the Home Office said that the issue was now being considered by civil servants.

The source said: "They are relooking at the whole issue. It may go to departments themselves."

Chris Green, a solicitor at the health, safety and environment group at Hammonds, said: "At present, if the corporate manslaughter bill becomes law, then it will not apply to crown bodies. If crown immunity is removed then they will be able to be prosecuted like any other employer."

Green referred to the case in the Royal Mint's factory in Swansea last year, in which John Wynne, a crane driver, at was crushed to death by a six-tonne furnace. A health and safety investigation later revealed that faulty equipment was to blame, but managers at the factory escaped prosecution because they were deemed to enjoy immunity.

Christopher Hill, a partner at solicitor Norton Rose, said the move may mean that officers of the Department of Transport might be liable for neglect of the roads, and that police might be criminally liable for deaths in custody.

A Home Office Spokesman said that it was a complex issue and that a decision had not been made yet.

Brumwell, who met Blunkett earlier this week, also revealed that the home secretary was considering the imposition of a new set of rules and regulations governing the employment of foreign workers from May 1.

The regulations will come into force alongside broader regulations covering illegal working announced by the government two weeks ago. This would include strengthened border contols and action to tackle people traffickers.

George Brumwell said that an immigrant working party, chaired by Home Office minister Beverley Hughes, was looking at drawing up a specific set of regulations for the construction industry.

Brumwell said that he was pleased that the government was keen to tackle the massive administrative task of dealing with foreign workers.

He said: "The government is keen to close the loophole of foreign workers be mistreated and exploited by employers and labour agencies.