HC Deb 02 April 1974 vol 871 cc328-9W
Mr. Hayhoe

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will publish the establishment and the total number of factory inspectors in post during each of the last 10 years, together with the annual figures for recruitment and wastage.

Mr. Harold Walker

The establishment and the total number of factory inspectors in post during each of the last 10 years, together with the annual figures for recruitment and wastage, were as follows:

Establishment (Cadre) Staff in Post
At 1st January
1974 752 681
1973 727 682
1972 714 703
1971 735 700
1970 684 618
1969 661 576
1968 596 519
1967 533 492
1966 517 496
1965 517 474
Recruitment Wastage
During
1974 14 (2 months) 5 (2 months)
1973 53 54
1972 38 59
1971 52 49
1970 129 47
1969 67 25
1968 84 27
1967 55 28
1966 27 31
1965 51 29

Mr. Hayhoe

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what percentage of the total number of factory inspectors during each of the last 10 years was mainly concerned with the actual inspection of factory premises.

Mr. Harold Walker

The table following shows the percentage of factory inspectors in post who are mainly concerned with the inspection of factory premises. The figures relate to 1st January in each year. Records for earlier years are incomplete.

Year Percentage
1970 86.6
1971 86.4
1972 85.6
1973 84.2
1974 83.1

Mr. Hayhoe

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what percentage of workplaces within the scope of the Factories Act has been inspected during the last year and the last two, three, four, five and six years.

Mr. Harold Walker

17.2 per cent. of workplaces which come within the scope of the Factories Act received a general inspection in 1973, 22.4 per cent. in 1972, 28.6 per cent. in 1971, 30.9 per cent. in 1970, 282 per cent. in 1969 and 28.5 per cent. in 1968. The figures reflect the change from cyclical to selective inspection, initiated in 1971 and advocated by the Robens Committee in its report published in 1972. A high proportion of factories which have not received general inspections have nevertheless been

Number of factories with joint safety committees Estimated percentage of workforce in all factories covered
May 1967 3,919 39
March 1967 5,470 46

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