§ 29. Mr. Willeyasked the Minister of Labour what steps he has taken to implement the Report on Staffing and Organisation of the Factory Inspectorate.
§ The Minister of Labour and National Service (Mr. Iain Macleod)Action is proceeding on all the recommendations in the White Paper. Some additional staff have already been recruited and others will shortly be interviewed. The boundaries of the inspectorate are being adjusted in order to eliminate overlapping with the normal Government regional boundaries, and a new division has been established with headquarters at Newcastle-on-Tyne. New staff training arrangements are being introduced.
§ Mr. WilleyI appreciate the progress that is being made, but can the right hon. 20 Gentleman say whether, in particular, progress has been made with regard to the chemical engineering branch?
§ Mr. MacleodWe have made most progress so far in the general inspectorate. So far as the engineering and chemical branch is concerned, there are a number of people in the general inspectorate who have the necessary qualifications, and I think it is only fair to offer them the opportunity of transfer first and that we are doing.