§ Sir Bernard Braineasked the Secretary of State for Employment how many times since 1st January 1976 the Factory Inspectorate has taken action to remedy apparent deficiencies in the observing of health and safety legislation in Canvey Island; and if he will categorise the nature of these deficiencies and whether they arose in respect of gas, chemical, and of other installations, respectively.
§ Mr. John GrantSince 1st January 1976 Her Majesty's Factory Inspectorate has paid 170 visits to the 87 factory premises registered on Canvey Island. These visits have been paid as part of the normal inspection programme of the inspectorate and also in connection with the Canvey Island investigation.
At any of these visits action taken by the inspector to remedy apparent deficiencies in compliance with health and safety legislation can take the form of verbal advice, a letter, issue of an enforcement notice or prosecution. Since 1st January 1976 letters sent have dealt with 44 items concerning health matters, and 59 concerning safety matters. One prohibition notice was issued concerning a dangerous machine. Information about visits to premises other than those covered 638W by the Factories Act 1961 and about the action taken there by inspectors, further categorisation of the information given above, and the type of installation involved could only be provided at disproportionate cost of administrative and inspectoral resources.