§ 2. Mr. Allen McKayTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many mines inspectors and quarries inspectors the Health and safety Executive had in place on 1 April.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Employment (Mr. Patrick Nicholls)On 1 April 1989 the Health and Safety Executive employed 58 mines inspectors and 11 quarries inspectors.
§ Mr. McKayIn what disciplines are the mines inspectors placed and where are the specialist services based?
§ Mr. NichollsThe inspectors are trained in specialties appropriate to their tasks. It may be of particular interest to the hon. Gentleman to know that in the past three years the ratio of mines inspectors to workers in British Coal mines has improved from one to 1,790 to one to 1,679. I am sure that the hon. Gentleman will agree that that is a most welcome improvement.
§ Mr. StrangWill the Minister acknowledge that accident rates are higher among the employees of the private contractors in British Coal collieries, and higher still among employees in the private licensed mines? The proposal to abolish the statutory health and safety responsibilities of the pit deputy is utterly unacceptable and we are not prepared to see a reduction in health and safety standards with the increase in accidents and deaths that it must entail, to prepare the way for privatisation of the industry.
§ Mr. NichollsI appreciate the hon. Gentleman's concern on the latter point, but I know of no such proposal. I also agree that the accident rate in licensed mines, which is running at a higher rate than that in the industry generally, is a cause for concern. It is difficult to discern any particular reason for it, but certain things a re clear—they tend to be smaller enterprises, in some cases technology and high technology may not be in use to the same extent, and the seams may be difficult to work. We share the hon. Gentleman's concern, and the inspectorate 169 has had a number of constructive meetings with the Federation of Licensed Mines to see whether anything can be done.