§ Mr. Tony LloydTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many staff years will be taken up by the training of all new Offshore Safety Division inspectors.
§ Mr. ForthThe amount of training given will depend on the number of inspectors recruited and their background and experience.
§ Mr. Tony LloydTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment what the Health and Safety Executive has done to recruit Offshore Safety Division specialist staff; how many vacancies currently exist; and how many applications have been received.
§ Mr. ForthThe Health and Safety Executive is currently undertaking a series of recruitment campaigns. The initial competition, which was first advertised on 14 March 1991, had 533 applicants. The second round of the campaign is now under way. Advertisements started on 17 June 1991 and the closing date is 2 August 1991. To date 500 applications have been received.
The intention is to increase the specialist staff in the division over the next three years; the first target set is for 143 specialist staff by 1 April 1992.
§ Mr. Tony LloydTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many Health and Safety Executive staff have been transferred(a) temporarily or (b) permanently to the Offshore Safety Division; from which inspectorates these staff were taken; and how long the temporary staff have been seconded for.
§ Mr. ForthTen Health and Safety Executive staff are currently working in the offshore safety division from their parent division:
- 3 Mines Inspectors
- 2 Specialist Inspectors from the Technology Division
- 1 Nuclear Inspector
- 1 Agricultural Inspector (as Training Manager)
- 2 Factory Inspectors
- 1 Senior Employment Nursing Adviser
Each individual's period of attachment is under review and as yet no decision has been made on duration or whether the move will become permanent.