HC Deb 24 June 1974 vol 875 cc345-7W
Mr. Cryer

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what proposals he has for reorganising the Factory Inspectorate.

Mr. Harold Walker

Proposals for reorganising the Factory Inspectorate have been made by a planning unit within my Department. No final decisions have been made, but two trial schemes have been set up to test the proposals. Copies of the planning unit's report will be available within the next few days and I shall send one to my hon. Friend.

Mr. Cryer

asked the Secretary of State for Employment in what towns he intends to locate the 18 area offices for the Factory Inspectorate; and which of the 115 existing district offices will be located in each of the 18 areas.

Mr. Harold Walker

No final decisions have been made about the reorganisation of factory inspectorate offices. The proposals which we are, at present, testing in the two trial schemes are contained in the planning unit's report which I shall send to my hon. Friend.

Mr. Cryer

asked the Secretary of State for Employment when the trial scheme of an area factory inspectorate in the North-West will be put into operation; and how long it is intended to operate this scheme before deciding whether the scheme has been a success.

Mr. Harold Walker

A trial scheme for testing proposals to reorganise Her Majesty's Factory Inspectorate was launched in the North-East on 1st June. It is proposed to run it for a period of about six months.

Mr. Cryer

asked the Secretary of State for Employment on what criteria the success or failure of the scheme for area factory inspectorates will be judged.

Mr. Harold Walker

Her Majesty's Factory Inspectorate is testing proposals for new methods of inspection designed to make the most of their resources and to deploy the services of experienced and knowledgeable inspectors in the areas where they are most needed. The success or failure of the trial schemes cannot therefore be measured in terms of the number of inspections which have been carried out over the period. We shall be looking instead on the effect of inspection by groups of inspectors on particular industries, the influence they have exercised on the safety policy of employers and what has been achieved on the factory floor as a result of the new approach.

Nevertheless, comparisons will be made between the new and old methods in relation to travelling time, the number of premises that have been inspected in depth, and the time spent in larger and more significant premises at which the working conditions are not as good as they might be or where there is a potential risk to health and safety.

Mr. Cryer

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what proportion of factory inspector's time it is anticipated will be taken up in travelling when the enlarged area offices are in being compared with the present travelling time.

Mr. Harold Walker

I am unable to tell my hon. Friend what proportion of the inspector's time will be spent in travelling in area offices as compared with the present arrangements. This is one of the many practical questions which are being studied during the trial schemes. While most inspectors will be working over a larger area than at present, some will be working over a smaller area, e.g. those on construction work. Inspectors have always by the very nature of their work spent a fair proportion of their time in travelling. What we are seeking to establish is how this can be used to the best advantage.

Mr. Cryer

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what consultation there has been with trade union officials and employers' federations based in the North-East before the trial scheme for area factory inspectorates was introduced.

Mr. Harold Walker

The trial scheme in the North-East is a management exercise intended to test proposals for new methods of inspection some of which were put forward by the Robens Committee and some of which we have had in mind for some time. Formal discussions or consultation with trade unions and employers' associations would be premature until the proposals have been tried in practice. The area director in charge of the scheme is, however, keeping in touch with trade unions and employers' associations in the North-East to explain our objectives and as the scheme progresses will be able to obtain their reactions. The need for formal consultation will be considered when we are in a position to put forward the conclusions we have reached as a result of the exercise.