MPs today backed demands for a new law on corporate killing following the death in 1998 of student Simon Jones at Shoreham Harbour.

Brighton's two Labour MPs, Kemptown's Des Turner and Pavilion's David Lepper, want the Government to find time for legislation.

Ministers have pledged to introduce a Bill when parliamentary time allows.

Now more than 50 MPs, including Dr Turner and Mr Lepper, are calling for swift action.

Mr Lepper said the Law Commission had recommended a new offence of corporate manslaughter as long ago as 1996.

"Such an offence would increase the accountability of directors and their equivalents, and encourage better safety standards.

"The Government should put before Parliament measures to enact a new offence of corporate manslaughter as soon as possible."

The family of Mr Jones have led the campaign for a change in the law, visiting Westminster to lobby trade ministers.

Sussex University student Simon, 24, died within hours of starting casual work at the harbour, crushed by an excavator grab in the hold of a ship in April 1998.

His family fought for more than three years to bring Euromin and its British operations general manager, Richard Martell, to court.

The firm and Mr Martell were acquitted of manslaughter but Euromin was fined £50,000 for violating two health and safety regulations.

Simon's mother, Anne Jones, has insisted managers must not be allowed to claim they were ignorant of what was happening in the workplace.

The Government's intention is for a new offence of corporate killing where it can be proved employers have killed their employees by "gross negligence".