§ Mr. Wrigglesworthasked the Secretary of State for Employment why the Factory Inspectorate office in Middlesbrough has been closed down and moved to Newcastle.
§ Mr. John GrantThe Chairman of the Health and Safety Commission informs me that the Factory Inspectorate office in Middlesbrough closed down over two years ago, on 31st May 1974, following the implementation of proposals contained in the 1972 report of the Robens Committee on Safety and Health at Work. This report pointed out that, in order to cope with the changing structure of modern industry and its techniques, it was necessary to have an inspectorate with a more closely integrated field organisation, capable of providing sophisticated administrative, technical, scientific 399W and information support. It was, therefore, recommended that the many small factory inspectorate offices should be replaced by fewer offices, large enough in size to comprise a wider range of specialisation and skills, and to have the status and authority to deal on the spot with difficult problems and large organisations.