HC Deb 23 November 1989 vol 162 cc18-20W
Mr. Andrew F. Bennett

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many new managerial posts, with no workplace inspection duties, will be created as a result of the implemention of the Martin report on reorganisation of the Health and Safety Executive senior management.

Mr. Nicholls

Seven new regional director of field operations posts will be created through reallocation of the functions of existing senior staff.

Seven new regional support manager posts at senior executive officer level will also be created to improve the support given to the Health and Safety Executive's professional staff in the regions. Their creation will be offset by a reduction in headquarters staff.

Mr. Andrew Bennett

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he expects the target of 100 construction inspectors to be in post for the Health and Safety Executive by 1990 to be achieved.

Mr. Nicholls

The HSE already has 100 inspectors regularly engaged in construction activities.

Mr. Andrew F. Bennett

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if it is planned to publish the Health and Safety Executive plan of work for 1990.

Mr. Nicholls

The Health and Safety Commission's plan of work for 1989–90 and beyond—which covers the work of the executive, as the commission's operational arm—was published in May 1989. The commission's plan for 1990–91 and beyond will be published in the spring.

Mr. Andrew F. Bennett

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if it is planned to publish the Martin report on the reorganisation of Health and Safety Executive senior management.

Mr. Nicholls

This report on a review of the H SE's field operations was commissioned by the executive for internal management purposes. Copies were distributed widely among HSE staff at the time the executive received it in February this year, but there are no plans to publish the report.

Mr. Andrew F. Bennett

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) what is the average length of time elapsing between basic inspection visits by the factory inspectorate and subsequent written communications with employers and employees, for each area office, for the last year for which figures are available;

(2) what is the average length of time elapsing between receipt of (i) a verbal and (ii) a written complaint, and the subsequent investigation by the Health and Safety Executive, at each area office, for the last year for which figures are available.

Mr. Nicholls

The wide variety of circumstances covered by the terms employed would make comparisons of the kind requested meaningless, and the information, is therefore collected as part of the HSE's monitoring systems.

The majority of complaints made to the executive, and all which are serious in nature, are investigated and most are cleared within a month of receipt.

Mr. Andrew F. Bennett

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the current average amount of training, in days, received by inspectors in the Health and Safety Executive, to enable them to deal with (i) the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations, (ii) the Control of Noise at Work Regulations and (iii) the new Electricity at Work Regulations.

Mr. Nicholls

Information on the current average amount of training in days received by inspectors to enable them to deal with the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations is not available.

Training is ongoing and is underpinned by written guidance produced for inspectors.

Training for inspectors in respect of the forthcoming regulations on noise and electricity will follow a similar pattern.

Mr. Andrew F. Bennett

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the current estimated cost of implementation of the Martin report on reorganisation of Health and Safety Executive senior management, in fiscal years 1990–91 and 1991–92.

Mr. Nicholls

Final details of the reorganisation are still being discussed within the HSE. It is expected that extra costs will be offset by savings from integration of certain functions currently carried out in several HSE divisions.

Mr. Andrew F. Bennett

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the number of premises currently awaiting fire certification by the Health and Safety Executive.

Mr. Nicholls

At 31 March 1989, the number of premises awaiting fire certification by the Health and Safety Executive under the Fire Certificates (Special Premises) Regulations 1976 was 205. A majority of the outstanding premises already have valid fire certificates issued under either the Factories Act 1961 or the Fire Precautions Act 1971. The HSE has given priority to those premises which had no existing certificates.