§ 77. Mr. Prenticeasked the Minister of Labour, in view of the figures on the strength of the Factory Inspectorate in the Report of the Chief Inspector of Factories for 1956, if he will give up-to-date figures of the numbers of inspectors employed and the number of vacancies; if he will make a statement on the current trends of recruitment and resignations; and if he will describe the steps he is taking to improve the situation.
§ Mr. Iain MacleodOn 3rd February, 1958, the number of inspectors employed in the Factory Inspectorate was 394 and 15 were awaiting appointment; there were 33 vacancies. The number of resignations in 1957 was nine, as compared with 17 in 1956.
In the General Inspectorate the present recruitment position is not unsatisfactory, and it is hoped to fill the three vacancies in the Medical Branch from an open competition which will be held shortly. In the Engineering and Chemical Branch, some of the additional posts have been filled by promotion from the General Inspectorate. For others, applications have been invited from suitably qualified candidates employed by other Government Departments, and if vacancies remain after candidates from this source have been interviewed, an open competition will be advertised.