HC Deb 22 June 1995 vol 262 cc373-4W
Dr. Strang

To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many trading standard officers were employed(a) for each year since 1979 and (b) at the latest available date. [28586]

Mr. Jonathan Evans

Information provided to my Department by local weights and measures authorities in England, Wales and Scotland indicates that since 1987–88 the number of qualified trading standards officers has been as follows:

  • 1987–88: 1,454
  • 1988–89: 1,438
  • 1989–90: 1,456
  • 1990–91: 1,504
  • 1991–92: 1,548
  • 1992–93: 1,598
  • 1993–94: 1,637

Figures for preceding years are not readily available.

Dr. Strang

To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many trainee trading standards officers there were(a) for each year since 1979 and (b) for the latest available date. [28587]

Mr. Evans

Information provided to my Department by the local government management board indicates that numbers of trainee trading standards officers registered in each year since 1987 were as follows:

Year Number
1987 98
1988 105
1989 102
1990 90
1991 91
1992 74
1993 36
1994 32
1995 24

In addition, there were 24 graduates in the BSC honours consumer protection degree in 1994, of whom 15 are now in the process of becoming fully qualified trading standards officers.

Figures for the preceding years are not readily available.

Dr. Strang

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement about the change in numbers of trainee trading standards officers since the end of the incentive training scheme for trading standards officers. [28588]

Mr. Evans

The Government are committed to a trading standards service which functions effectively and efficiently. It is for individual local authorities to ensure that numbers of qualified staff are sufficient to provide adequate levels of service in their respective areas and to make budgetary decisions which will reflect that need.

In response to concerns about staffing levels my Department encouraged and supported the introduction of a grant scheme for trainee trading standards officers which began in 1987–488. The decision not to extend the term of this scheme beyond 1991 was taken by the local government management board on behalf of the local authority associations. Since that decision, total numbers of qualified staff have steadily increased from about 1,500 in 1990–91 to more than 1,630 in 1993–94.