§ Mr. Maddenasked the Secretary of State for Employment what representations have been made against the proposed reorganisation of the Factory Inspectorate; how many local offices will be closed; and with whom consultations have been carried out on the proposed reorganisation.
§ Mr. Harold WalkerI am informed by the Chairman of the Health and Safety Commission that representations against the proposed reorganisation of628W Her Majesty's Factory Inspectorate have been received from West and South Yorkshire, Swindon, Gloucester, the Isle of Wight, Teeside, Stafford and the Warrington Area. These mainly related to local issues of area boundaries and the closure of local offices. General objections to the proposed reorganisation have been received from West and South Yorkshire, Swindon and the Warrington Area.
It is expected that outside London not more than 35 of Her Majesty's Inspectorate offices will be closed in towns where there will be no Health and Safety Executive office. Forty-two Factory Inspectorate offices will close where there will be an alternative HSE office in the same town.
In the case of Greater London, three suitably located area offices will replace the existing 21 offices.
Nationally the Health and Safety Commission has consulted the CBI and TUC. At local level area directors are discussing the proposals with the TUC Regional Councils and local CBI organisations. There is continuing consultation with the staff at both national and local levels.
§ Mr. Maddenasked the Secretary of State for Employment how many factory inspectors, specialist, and non-specialist, there are, compared with the same period last year; and how many in both groups are available for field duties, compared with those in permanent administrative posts.
§ Mr. Harold WalkerAt 1st March 1976 there were 838 factory inspectors in post compared with 773 in post at 3rd March 1975. Of the 838 inspectors now in post, 772 are actively engaged on field inspection duties and 66 are employed in administrative—policy—work.