HC Deb 07 June 1956 vol 553 cc1261-3
27. Dr. Stross

asked the Minister of Labour how many factory inspectors are in the temporary grade; how many inspectors are seconded for work abroad; and how many, owing to lack of scientific and technical training, are attending, at the School of Technology, Leicester, a full-time course in scientific subjects.

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Labour and National Service (Mr. Robert Carr)

Eight factory inspectors are temporary, one is seconded for work abroad and twelve are attending the course at Leicester.

Dr. Stross

In view of the fact that we need as many inspectors at work as possible, if it be only to perform routine inspections, may we have an assurance that these temporary inspectors, who were appointed during the war, I believe, will be retained, and that their services will not be dispensed with?

Mr. Carr

It is, of course, our general policy to replace temporary staff by permanent officials, but the whole question of the Factory Inspectorate is being reviewed by my right hon. Friend at the moment.

Mr. W. R. Williams

If these inspectors are in temporary employment after such a long period—as far back as the war—why has consideration not been given to establishment for them a long time ago, as is done in the rest of the Civil Service?

Mr. Carr

If the hon. Member has a specific question to ask on that point, perhaps he will put it down. I can reassure him that our Factory Inspectorate will be treated with fairness and consideration equal to that accorded to other sections of our service.

28. Dr. Stross

asked the Minister of Labour, in view of the fact that it was the policy of his Department in 1954 that 50 per cent. of recruits to the Factory Inspectorate should have technical qualifications, why this policy has not yet been fully implemented.

Mr. Iain Macleod

There is a general shortage of technically qualified persons, and the question what proportion of the members of the general Factory Inspectorate should possess technical qualifications is one that I am now examining.

Dr. Stross

Would the Minister bear in mind that in 1954 the then Parliamentary Secretary, now the Minister of Transport, made it clear that it was then the policy of the Department to accept that at least 50 per cent. should be fully trained technical officers on recruitment? Is it not a fact that the real difficulty is that the Ministry, perhaps under pressure from the Treasury, are not able to offer suitable salary scales under today's conditions?

Mr. Macleod

What the then Parliamentary Secretary said, on 12th November, 1954, was that While we should like 50 per cent. of the inspectorate to be technically trained, the fact is that the work of the General Inspectorate is not of a professional character."—[OFFICIAL REPORT, 12th November. 1954; Vol. 532, c. 1640.] I think that is slightly different from the gloss which the hon. Member has put upon those words. I can assure him that this is not a question of Treasury interference at all. I have in front of me a very fine Report. about which the hon. Member knows—the Departmental Report, which has recently reached me. In the light of that, I am examining what would be the beg proportion, for the future, of technically qualified persons in the Inspectorate.

Dr. Stross

Will the Minister be good enough to let us see a copy of that Report? Will he place it in the Library, in view of the fact that he has not considered it desirable to publish it?

Mr. Macleod

A real difficulty exists here. It is not usual to publish such reports, as the hon. Member knows, but I recognise the interest in this matter. Partly because the Report is, I think, such an excellent Report, I will reexamine the way in which I can make hon. Members who are particularly interested in this subject cognisant of the main recommendations of the Report.

29. Dr. Stross

asked the Minister of Labour how many factory inspectors have been appointed since March, 1953; of these, how many are now in post; and, of these, how many are graduates in engineering, physics or chemistry, respectively, and how many have recognised professional qualifications in building construction or civil engineering.

Mr. Carr

Altogether, 57 factory inspectors have been appointed since March, 1953, of whom 48 are now in post. Of these two are graduates in engineering, two in physics, two in chemistry, and none has recognised professional qualifications in building construction or civil engineering.

Dr. Stross

Does not the answer highlight the very great difficulty with which the Ministry is faced? Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that before the war two out of every three were fully qualified technically? Is not something radical to be done to see that the Inspectorate, which used to be a model which we held up before the whole world, returns to its original and pristine reputation?

Mr. Carr

We are certainly aware of the problems involved at the moment, but I would rather not add to what my right hon. Friend has said. Replying to the last part of the hon. Member's Question, I must stand up for the general quality of the work which is being done by the Inspectorate as it exists at the moment. I do not think that the hon. Member himself means to denigrate that in any way by his remarks.