§ Mr. Cryer asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the number of qualified health and safety inspectors who are occupying administrative posts in the Health and Safety Executive headquarters; what is the additional cost of this; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Waddington [pursuant to his reply, 23 October 1981): Sixty-one of the 710 posts in the Health and Safety Executive headquarters are occupied by health and safety inspectors. These posts are filled by inspectors because of the need for their technical and inspectorial knowledge and experience in this work and because it is an important part of their career development. Their employment cannot be considered as an additional cost. The headquarters of individual inspectorates are also staffed chiefly by health and safety inspectors.