§ Mr. Fauldsasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether, in view of his decision that 3,000 food items are to be monitored regularly for the presence of contaminating heavy metals, he will now reconsider the request of the hon. Member for Smethwick for the 294W inspectors were employed in 1970 by local authorities for the inspection of commercial and industrial premises with a view to the enforcement of fire regulations; and how many more inspectors he estimates will be employed under the the Fire Precautions Bill, when enacted.
§ Mr. SharplesInformation about the total number of officers engaged exclusively on the inspection of industrial and commercial premises is not available. The establishment of fire brigade officers engaged whole-time on fire prevention duties of all kinds in England and Wales on 1st January, 1971, was 1,321. This figure takes no account of members of brigades also employed for part of their time on such duties. Provision has been made for an eventual addition of about 400 to the staff of the fire authorities for the purposes of the Fire Precautions Bill.