HC Deb 04 December 1978 vol 959 cc477-8W
Mr. Rooker

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many prosecutions for illegal underpayment of wages have been started by the Wages Inspectorate during 1978.

Mr. John Grant

Fifteen.

Mr. Grylls

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many visits have been made by the factory inspectors to (a) industrial premises and (b) Crown premises during the current year.

Mr. John Grant

I am advised by the chairman of the Health and Safety Commission that since the coming into force of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 Her Majesty's Factory Inspectorate has not distinguished between industrial establishments and the other establishments for which it is the enforcing authority. In 1977 inspectors paid 152,618 visits to establishments excluding visits to construction sites and similar transient workplaces. Separate figures are not kept for Crown premises. Because of a change in the method of recording visits nationally, similar figures are not available for the current year.

Mr. Grylls

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many factory inspectors there are in Her Majesty's Inspectorate.

Mr. John Grant

I am informed by the chairman of the Health and Safety Commission that there were 925 factory inspectors in post at the beginning of October 1978.