§ Mr. Georgeasked the Secretary of State for Energy how many inspectors are employed by the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate; what has been the shortfall in staff for each quarter since January 1977; and how many nuclear power stations have had no site inspector for more than one month since January 1977.
§ Mr. MayhewI have been asked to reply.
There are at present 88 inspectors employed in the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate. The number of vacancies for inspectors at the beginning of each quarter since January 1977 was as follows:
1977 1 January … … … … … … … Nil 1 April … … … … … … … Nil 1 July … … … … … … … 5 1 October … … … … … … … 5 1978 1 January … … … … … … … 9 1 April … … … … … … … 9 1 July … … … … … … … 8 1 October … … … … … … … 7 1979 1 January … … … … … … … 8 1 April … … … … … … … 10 1 July … … … … … … … 10 1 October … … … … … … … 10 During this period no nuclear power station has been without an inspector designated to cover the site.