§ Mr. Harold Walkerasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what instructions, directives or guidance have been given to the Alkali Inspectorate by the appropriate Minister under Section 10(1) of the Alkali Act or otherwise on the interpretation of the phrase, best practicable means; if he will arrange for the publication of such instructions by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, for a copy to be also placed in the Library of the House of Commons and for such instructions to be published when made in the future.
§ Mr. Peter WalkerNone. The Chief Alkali and Clean Air Inspector instructs the Inspectorate in the light of Section 27 of the Act and of legal advice. It is not customary to publish instructions issued to civil servants by their Departments. Moreover, these instructions represent guidance only and their publication could be misleading, suggesting as it would that they were of binding force.
§ Mr. Harold Walkerasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the minimum qualifications required of candidates for the Alkali and Clean Air Inspectorate; what is the current salary scale; and what are the present numbers.
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§ Mr. Peter WalkerThe Alkali Inspectorate in my Department consists of
One Chief Alkali Inspector on a salary of £8,105.Three Deputy Chief Alkali Inspectors on a salary scale £5,954–£6,782.Fifteen District Alkali Inspectors on a salary scale £4,500–£5,500.Seventeen Alkali Inspectors on a salary scale £3,450–£4,500.The qualifications for an Alkali Inspector which is the level at which recruitment is made, are: an honours degree, or equivalent, in chemistry or chemical engineering, or have achieved corporate membership of the Institution of Chemical Engineers, or be associates or Fellows of the Royal Institute of Chemistry. Corporate membership of the Institute of Fuel is an advantage. At least five years experience in and wide knowledge of one or more of the following: Chemical Industry, Chemical Engineering, Fuel Technology.