HC Deb 17 July 2003 vol 409 cc541-2W
Tom Cox

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) how many health and safety inspectors are employed by his Department; and how many were employed in each of the last five years; [112712]

(2) how many health and safety inspectors there are in England and Wales; and how many there were in (a) 2000, (b) 2001 and (c) 2002. [118555]

Mr. Browne

The Department for Work and Pensions does not employ Health and Safety Inspectors. However, since 2002 it has been responsible for sponsoring the Health and Safety Executive (HSE); the number of Heath and Safety Inspectors employed by HSE in each of the last five years is given in the following table.

Inspectors
1 April 1998 1,437
1 April 1999 1,497
1 April 2000 1,507
1 April 2001 1,534
1 April 2002 1,625
1 April 2003 1,651