§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) if he is satisfied with the present level of health and safety at work; and if he will make a statement;
(2) if he will take steps to encourage factory inspectors to disclose the problems and difficulties they find in the course of their inspections to the public and the press.
§ Mr. Mayhewshall reply to the hon. Member as soon as possible.
§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Employment how many of the planned staff savings of 260 people at the Health and Safety Executive are factory inspectors.
§ Mr. MayhewThe Health and Safety Commission and the Executive are reviewing the allocation of resources to future programmes of work, but it is too early to say how this will affect the number of factory inspectors.
§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the current frequency of visits to the average establishment by factory inspectors; and what will be the frequency of visits following cutbacks in resources and manpower.
22W
§ Mr. MayhewOn frequency of visits by factory inspectors to the average establishment I have nothing to add to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Keighley (Mr. Cryer) on 8 November 1979—[Vol. 973, c.260–611] It is too early to say what effect the Government's announced cut in the Health and Safety Executive's staff costs will have on the inspectorates activities.
§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he has made an estimate of the cost to industry as a result of health and safety legislation; and if he has made an estimate of the saving of life and health standards as a result of health and safety legislation.
§ Mr. MayhewIt is not feasible to make global estimates of this kind.