§ 17. Mr. DalyellTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment if at his next meeting with the chairman of the Health and Safety Executive he will discuss establishment levels in the nuclear installations inspectorate.
§ Mr. ForthThe HSE's staffing requirements are reviewed annually as part of the public expenditure survey. On 1 November 1990 there were 248 staff in the HSE's nuclear installations inspectorate, of whom 159 were nuclear inspectors—an increase in inspectors of some 60 per cent. since 1987. Current plans are to recruit to a level of 172 inspectors.
§ Mr. DalyellGiven the clean bill of health that the nuclear installations inspectorate has given Dounreay and in view of events in the middle east, should not the Government consider reversing the rundown of Dounreay?
§ Mr. ForthI must tell the hon. Gentleman that the status of a nuclear installation is not a matter for me or for my Department; my responsibilities are for the Health and Safety Executive. With respect to the hon. Gentleman, who understands these matters well, I can say to him only that I will pass his comments to my colleague at the Department of Energy so that he may have a response from that Department.