§ Mr. IngramTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much has been spent to date on the prior options review and conversation to agency status of the health and safety laboratory; and from which budget these sums were paid. [10074]
§ Sir Paul BeresfordThe conversion of the health and safety laboratory to an internal agency of the Health and Safety Executive on 1 April 1995 followed a review by the Health and Safety Executive's then director general, John Rimington. The estimated cost to the health and safety laboratory of preparing for agency status during 1994–95 was £507,000. It is not possible to quantify the related costs of the other staff of the Health and Safety Executive who were involved in the review of the laboratory and in its subsequent conversion to agency status.
The estimated cost to the Health and Safety Executive of the prior options review was £61,000. All costs were met from within HSE's existing resources.
The health and safety laboratory's status as an agency provides greater exposure to the market place and this is increasing both its efficiency and effectiveness.
95W
§ Mr. IngramTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many(a) United Kingdom, (b) European and (c) international committees include employees of the health and safety laboratory as representatives of United Kingdom interests; and how many of these employees are leading the United Kingdom team on their committee. [10076]
§ Sir Paul BeresfordEmployees of the health and safety laboratory serve on(a) 73 United Kingdom, (b) 62 European and (c) 25 international committees. They lead the United Kingdom team on 21 European and 12 international committees.
§ Mr. IngramTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what estimate he has made of the future costs of the prior options review of the health and safety laboratory; and from which budget these sums will be paid. [10075]
§ Sir Paul BeresfordThe review of the health and safety laboratory has been completed and its outcome was announced by my noble Friend Earl Ferrers on 24 July 1996. The Health and Safety Executive has established a team to prepare a detailed plan to implement to the Government's decisions. The estimated cost of preparing this plan is £50,000. It will not be possible to estimate the full costs of implementation until that plan has been finalised. All these costs will be met from within HSE's existing resources.
§ Mr. IngramTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many(a) United Kingdom, (b) European and (c) international committees are chaired by employees of the health and safety laboratory. [10077]
§ Sir Paul BeresfordEmployees of the health and safety laboratory chair(a) six United Kingdom, (b) eight European and (c) seven international committees.