HC Deb 18 April 1989 vol 151 cc135-6W
16. Mr. Heffer

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many factory inspectors have left the Health and Safety Executive in the last 12 months; and how many were retirements and how many resignations.

Mr. Nicholls

Of the 39 factory inspectors who left the Health and Safety Executive between 31 March 1988 and 1 April 1989, eight retired and 27 resigned. A further four transferred to other Government Departments.

33. Mr. Redmond

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many factory inspectors were conducting preventive inspections on the following dates: 6 June 1988, 7 September 1988 and 23 January 1989.

Mr. Nicholls

Factory inspectors in the Health and Safety Executive's area offices are not employed solely on preventive inspection but also make visits in response to accidents or other incidents, complaints, inquiries or to follow up previously identified shortcomings.

Staffing figures are recorded on the first of each month. The numbers of factory inspectors in area offices on 1 June 1988, 1 September 1988 and 1 February 1989 were 520, 522 and 533 respectively.

51. Mr. Madden

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many additional factory inspectors would he required to enable the percentage of reported accidents investigated to rise to 10 per cent.

Mr. Nicholls

Information is not available in the form requested. Health and Safety Executive plans are not expressed in terms of a fixed percentage of reported accidents to be investigated. The 1989–90 plans provide for some 10,800 investigations of incidents (including occupational diseases, and dangerous occurrences, as well as accidents) reported under the Reporting of Injuries, Industrial Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations. This compares with 9,900 planned in 1988–89.

80. Mr. Bill Michie

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the total number of construction factory inspectors in post as at 1 April.

Mr. Nicholls

On 1 April 1989 there were 99–5 inspectors employed on the inspection of construction activities.

133. Mr. Ted Garrett

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what were the target numbers set for preventive inspections for factory inspectors in 1986, 1987 and 1988.

Mr. Nicholls

The Health and Safety Executive's Factory Inspectorate does not set target numbers for preventive inspections and therefore the information requested is not available.

134. Mr. Fraser

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the number of factory inspectors in post in 1979, 1987 and 1989 on 1 April.

Mr. Nicholls

On 1 April 1979, 1987 and 1989 the Health and Safety Executive employed 742.5, 621.5 and 604 factory inspectors respectively.