§ Mr. GrahamTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the average time spent each year on quarry inspections by the Health and Safety Executive in Scotland; and what is the average time taken for each quarry inspection.
Mr. JacksonInformation is not available on the time spent each year on quarry inspections by the Health and Safety Executive before 1 April 1989.
However, between 1 April 1989 and 31 March 1990 HSE spent 2,543 hours inspecting all quarrying activities in Scotland. The average time taken for each quarry inspection in Scotland in 1989–90 was three hours.
§ Mr. GrahamTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many officials are employed by the Health and Safety Executive in Scotland to visit and inspect quarries.
Mr. JacksonOn 1 April 1991 HSE employed one full-time quarries inspector in Scotland. However, other HSE staff, including factory and specialist inspectors and staff from the employment medical advisory service, may visit quarries to carry out investigations or surveys or for other reasons, as part of the planned programme of workplace visits of HSE's field operations division.
369WIn addition, a senior inspector of quarries based in Newcastle-upon-Tyne has responsibilities for quarries in Scotland and will also make visits as necessary.
§ Mr. GrahamTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will propose legislation to make it a criminal offence in Scotland to leave detonation cord and detonators on the surface land in and around a quarry370W without supervision
Mr. JacksonThe Quarries (Explosives) Regulations 1988 already require quarry managers to ensure that explosives and detonators are kept securely. In particular the manager is required to ensure that at all times explosives and detonators are either in a locked explosives