§ Mr. Peter Millsasked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the number of civil servants employed to look after the agricultural section of the Health and Safety Regulations for 1976; and what is the projected number for 1977.
§ Mr. John GrantOn 1st October 1976 there were 12 inspectorial and administration staff employed full-time on health and safety policy work in agriculture in Great Britain. 113 inspectorial and administration staff were employed fulltime and 296 field officers were employed for about 30 per cent. of their time on health and safety work in agriculture in England and Wales. In Scotland there were 17 agricultural inspectors, who were also responsible for undertaking wages inspection work.
On 1st October 1977 it is projected that there will be a total of 231 staff employed full-time on agricultural health and safety duties in Great Britain.
Support staff for the field inspectorate—clerks, typists and messengers—have been excluded in both cases.