§ Dr. Michael Clarkasked the Paymaster General what representations he has received regarding the quality and quantity of staff employed by the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate.
§ Mr. Kenneth Clarke[pursuant to his reply, 11 May 1987, c. 27]: The Select Committee on Energy, in its Second Report published last month, recommended that urgent attention be given "to ensuring that the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate can recruit and retain sufficient staff of sufficient quality to discharge all its responsibilities". I have had discussions with the chairman of the Health and Safety Commission, Her Majesty's chief inspector of nuclear installations and officials of the Health and Safety Executive concerning recruitment matters for the inspectorate. I have received no other representations on these matters during the last six months.
The Health and Safety Commission will shortly launch a recruitment campaign for the inspectorate on the basis of increased salaries.