§ Mr. Skinnerasked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) what arrangements are being made to ensure that the Factory Inspectorate is able to maintain the same safety standards in the mines as currently operate under the Mines and Quarries Inspectorate;
(2) if he will now instruct the Health and Safety Executive to withdraw its proposals to (a) separate the Inspectors of Quarries from the Inspectors of Mines, (b) place the Chief Inspector of Mines under the direction of the newly created post of Inspector-General, and (c) make senior district inspectors in the coal fields responsible to the area directors of the Factory Inspectorate.
§ Mr. WaddingtonThe Health and Safety Executive's proposals for re-organising the work of its inspectorates are under discussion with representative bodies of those concerned. No decisions have yet been taken. There is no proposal for the Factory Inspectorate to take responsibility for safety standards in mines.