HC Deb 30 June 1977 vol 934 cc338-9W
Mr. Biffen

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many lectures were given by members of the Health and Safety Executive for the 12-month period ended 31st March 1977; how many of these were given by members of Her Majesty's Factory Inspectorate; what percentage of inspectors' time this represented; and what change was made for these lectures.

Mr. John Grant

No formal records are kept of speaking engagements attended by members of the Health and Safety Executive in the headquarter offices; in addition, no records are kept of lectures given by members of the Alkali and Clean Air, Nuclear Installations or Mines and Quarries Inspectorates, or of the Employment Medical Advisory Service. However, records are available which show that the 638 factory inspectors operating regionally fulfilled 1,417 speaking engagements in the 12-month period ending 31st December 1976. No information is available on the proportion of factory inspectors' time which these lectures represent. Factory inspectors in the field normally make no charge for the lectures.

Mr. Biffen

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the total expenditure of the Health and Safety Commission and Executive for the 12-month period ended 31st March 1977.

Mr. John Grant

The final accounts have not been completed. The statutory date for completion is 30th November 1977 and following audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General the income and expenditure accounts will be presented to Parliament in a White Paper. The cash expenditures will be published with the Appropriation Accounts under Class IV Vote 15.

Mr. Biffen

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how much of the £4,104,457 attributed to general administrative expenses under Schedule 2 to the Income and Expenditure Account of the Health and Safety Executive for the period ended 31st March 1976 was attributable to travelling expenses; and if he will direct that travelling expenses be shown as a separate figure in the accounts for the period ended 31st March 1977.

Mr. John Grant

£1,216,535. This figure covers travelling and associated subsistence and minor expenses and includes such expenses incurred on travel abroad and staff training. I do not consider it appropriate to direct that future accounts should contain detail of this sort nor to give such directions in retrospect.