HC Deb 28 January 1981 vol 997 cc407-8W
Mr. Cryer

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) what proposals the Health and Safety Executive has for the further reorganisation of the Factory Inspectorate; whether these involve the removal of the title "factory inspector"; and if he will place a copy of all Health and Safety Executive reorganisation proposals in the Library;

(2) how many discussions he has had with the relevant trades unions or factory inspectors who inspect factories, as opposed to those undertaking administrative tasks, on any proposed reorganisation of the inspectorate;

(3) whether he has under consideration any proposal for the removal of the post of Chief Inspector of Factories; and if he will make a statement;

(4) whether he has under consideration the appointing to posts of area directors of the Health and Safety Executive, administrators, instead of persons with experience of factory inspection, or a similar background; if so, why; and what consultations he has had with the relevant trade unions about the matter;

(5) whether he plans a reorganisation in which specific inspectorates will lose their identity and be merged into a large general inspectorate; whether the general warrant issued to health and safety inspectors could be operated unaltered following such a change; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Waddington

Last year a job evaluation study of the HSE inspectorates was carried out on a basis agreed with the trade unions concerned in order to establish whether a common grading structure would be practicable and desirable. In the light of that study the Executive put proposals to the trade union side for changes in organisation within HSE. The Executive is at present engaged in discussions with the trade unions concerned on these matters. However I have asked the Director of the Executive to arrange for a copy of the proposals to be placed in the Library. The matters raised by the hon. Member are discussed in this document. The Executive does not consider that the changes proposed would require any alteration in the terms of the warrants appointing HSE inspectors.