§ Mr. Harold Walkerasked the Secretary of State for Employment how many people visited the Industrial Health and Safety Centre in each of the last 10 years.
§ Mr. Mayhew[pursuant to his reply, 9 May 1980, c. 252–53]: The recorded number of visitors to the Health and Safety Centre in the period 1970 to 1979 were:
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1970 22,018 1971 25,099 1972 21,862 1973 20,422
§ Mr. Harold Walkerasked the Secretary of State for Employment how many persons are at present in apprenticeships in the engineering, foundry and engineering construction trades; how many of these are supported by the Government grants or awards; and how these numbers compare with each of the last five years.
§ Mr. Jim Lester[pursuant to his reply, 2 May 1980, c. 691–92]: I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that reliable information can be given only in respect of the craft and technician apprentices recruited by firms in scope to the engineering industry training board and its foundry industry training committee and who follow approved courses of training.
The figures are as follows for mainstream engineering:
and those supported by Governmerit grants are as follows:
1974 22,823 1975 21,096 1976 27,002 1977 27,181 1978 27,850 1979 26,541
§ Mr. Harold Walkerasked the Secretary of State for Employment what methods of bringing relevant information to the public are comparable to the work carried out at the Industrial Health and Safety Centre in Horseferry Road; and what proposals he has for ensuring that such methods are fully utilised following the closure of the centre.
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§ Mr. Mayhew[pursuant to his reply, 9 May 1980, c. 252–53]: The Health and Safety Executive participates in a programme of major industrial trade shows and exhibitions and has an increasing stock of safety films. These activities are used to convey information to specific audience groups about occupational health and safety hazards.
A wide and expanding range of publications is available from Her Majesty's Stationery Office bookshops or agents. General information services in headquarters and area offices, including a substantial press service, provide ample flow of health and safety information.
The HSE has steadily improved the standard of its information services and it is expected that this development will continue.
§ Mr. Harold Walkerasked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the numbers of people employed by the Health and Safety Commission in the provision of information services, categorised by rank; and what is the cost of the provision of such services.
§ Mr. Mayhew[pursuant to his reply, 9 May 1980, c. 252–53]: The numbers of people employed by the Health and Safety Commission in the provision of information services are as follows:
Information Officers 22 Graphics Officers 24 Photographers 14 Printing Grades 15 Librarians 13 Scientific & Technical 10 Museum Grades 8 Executive 8 Clerical 27 Typing 11 152 The latest available estimate of the annual cost of the provision of such services is £2.5 million, which includes the salaries of the staff shown, their support cost, and provision for such items as films and exhibitions.
§ Mr. Harold Walkerasked the Secretary of State for Employment on how many occasions during the last 12 months television time was bought for informing the public about occupational health and safety hazards; and what was the cost.
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§ Mr. Mayhew[pursuant to his reply, 9 May 1980, c. 252–53]: Television time has not been bought for this purpose during the last 12 months.
Television has used HSE material on a number of occasions during the last year to inform the general public about occupational health and safety hazards, but this time has been provided free of charge.