HC Deb 03 May 2000 vol 349 cc105-6W
Helen Jones

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many inspectors there were(a) in the Field Operations Directorate of the Health and Safety Executive and (b) in each of the bands 1-4 in each of the last five years. [120389]

Mr. Meacher

[holding answer 2 May 2000]: The number of inspectors in the Field Operations Directorate of the Health and Safety Executive in each of the last five years is as follows:

Number
April 1996 892
April 1997 813
April 1998 815
April 1999 837
April 2000 828

The number of inspectors in the Field Operations Directorate of the Health and Safety Executive in each of the last five years by band is as follows:

Band 1 Band 2 Band 3 Band 4
April 1996 42 185 606 59
April 1997 34 165 522 92
April 1998 35 161 527 92
April 1999 35 156 512 134
April 2000 34 171 507 116

Note:

Between April 1996 and April 1997 80 staff were transferred, during an internal reorganisation, to the new Chemical and Hazardous Installations Division.

Source:

PARIS (Personnel Administration and Records Integrated System) live data as at 26 April 2000

Helen Jones

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what recent research his Department has commissioned on the effectiveness of unannounced preventive inspectors by the HSE in preventing accidents at work. [120387]

Mr. Meacher

[holding answer 2 May 2000]: HSE has recently initiated a research project entitled "Proving Inspection Works". The aim of the project is to develop a methodology by which HSE can progressively evaluate the impact inspectors achieve in their various regulatory encounters with duty holders in order to maximise their effects.

It is hoped that "Proving Inspection Works" will demonstrate the value of unannounced preventive inspections, but it may be optimistic to say that a direct link can be proved between such an inspection and a reduction in accidents at a particular workplace. The project is looking to measure the promotion of positive risk management behaviours as well as reducing specific hazards and risks.