§ Mrs. Wiseasked the Secretary of State for Employment how many factory inspectors there are; and how many factories they cover.
§ Mr. John GrantThere are 663 general factory inspectors in post including those working in Factory Inspectorate headquarters and in the secretarial branches of the HSE as well as those outstationed in the area offices. In addition, there 71W are 167 specialist inspectors working in the headquarters consultant sections, in the secretariat branches and outstationed in the area offices.
On 31st December 1975 there were 209,573 premises registered under the Factories Act 1961 of which 205,466 were factories. They were also 179,451 premises registered under the Offices, Shops and Railway Premises Act 1963 for the bulk of which the Factory Inspectorate is the enforcing authority.
In addition, the Factory Inspectorate is responsible for all construction work, although the precise number of sites in existence is not known, and the inspectorate is also the enforcing authority for all work activity newly brought under health and safety legislation by the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.