§ Mr. Biffenasked the Secretary of State for Employment how many construction inspectors there are in each group and how many construction inspectors there were in the old divisions of the Factory Inspectorate in January 1976; and if the reduction in the number of inspectors on construction work has any bearing on the increase in fatalities in the construction industry in 1976.
§ Mr. John Grant:I am advised by the Chairman of the Health and Safety Commission that on 1st August 1977 a total of 80 inspectors were employed in the construction groups in the 21 operational Areas of HM Factory Inspectorate. This compares with 70 inspectors in 15 construction districts under the old organisation of HMFI in January 1976. I have written to the hon. Member about the allocation of inspectors to industry groups and a copy of the information has been placed in the Library. The number of fatal accidents in the construction industry fell from 182 in 1975 to 156 in 1976.