§ Mr. HinchliffeTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the total number of establishments which require visits from the agricultural inspectorate; how many such visits were made in the last year for which figures are available; and how many inspections are expected to be made in the present year.
§ Mr. NichollsThe Health and Safety Executive's agricultural inspectorate is the enforcing authority for 279,051 establishments. In the year ended 31 March 1988 a total of 33,408 visits were made to such premises, of which 1,865 were investigations of accidents or complaints. It is anticipated that 34,390 visits will be made in the current year of which 30,940 will be inspections.
§ Mr. HinchliffeTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many persons are employed as agricultural inspectors; and on average how many inspections they each make a year.
§ Mr. NichollsOn 1 July 1988, a total of 148 inspectors were employed in Her Majesty's agricultural inspectorate of the Health and Safety Executive. During 1987–88, the inspectorate made over 39,000 visits to premises. This figure includes planned preventive inspections, follow-up visits, investigations of accidents and dangerous occurrences, meetings with management and safety representatives, and general advisory and educational work; some visits combined more than one of these purposes. Consequently, it would be misleading to refer to an average rate per inspector.