HC Deb 21 May 1981 vol 5 cc143-4W
Mr. Cryer

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the cost of the last reorganisation of the Factory Inspectorate; and what is the anticipated cost of the current reorganisation proposal.

Mr. Waddington

The last reorganisation of the Factory Inspectorate occurred in January 1977 when the original organisation consisting of 12 divisions and 115 districts, was replaced by an area office network based on 21 primary locations. It is not possible, however, to separate the cost of that exercise from costs which arose simultaneously from the planned expansion of the inspectorate in 1977 and the general restructuring of the headquarters and regional organisation of the Health and Safety Executive, including the employment medical advisory service and other inspectorates.

The proposed changes in the organisation of the Health and Safety Executive do not in themselves involve any additional costs. The separate but related proposal to establish a common grading structure for inspectors within HSE may or may not involve some additional costs depending on the grading and salary level agreed for the various posts. Discussions on a possible common grading structure have not yet begun between the Civil Service Department and the trade unions concerned.