§ Mr. Maddenasked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the latest average inspection rate, per workplace, made by factory inspectors in the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. Harold WalkerI am informed by the Chairman of the Health and Safety Commission that on 31st December 1975 there were 209,917 factories, docks and warehouses registered with Her Majesty's Factory Inspectorate in Great Britain. Visits were paid by Her Majesty's Factory Inspectors to 63,884 of these premises for the purpose of routine inspection or for special investigations.
During the period 1st January 1975 to 31st December 1975 51,086 construction sites were at some time included in Her Majesty's Factory Inspectorates register and 39,310 visits were paid to such sites 630W for the purpose of routine inspections or for special investigations by Factory Inspectors.
On 31st December 1975 there were 175,974 premised registered with Her Majesty's Factory Inspectorate subject to the Office Shops and Railway Premises Act 1963 and 41,910 of these premises were visited for the purpose of routine inspections and special investigations by Her Majesty's Inspectors of Factories.
Additionally Her Majesty's Inspectors of Factories paid 2,485 visits to workplaces which became subject to health and safety legislation for the first time on 1st April 1975 as a result of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.