§ Mr. George Grantasked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the recommended number of Her Majesty's inspectors for the coal mining industry in the United Kingdom; what is the actual number employed at the most recent date; if he will estimate the number of inspections not carried out because of this short-fall in inspectors; what proposals he has for correcting this position; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. WaddingtonThere is no recommended figure for the number of inspectors of mines and quarries. The number of inspectors currently in post is 95.
A total of 11, 980 inspections were carried out at coal mines in 1980, the last year for which final figures are presently available. The Health and Safety Executive is satisfied that the health and safety of persons at mines is adequately safeguarded by this level of inspection.
The Health and Safety Executive is seeking to recruit additional inspectors up to a total of 102 in 1982–83. That recruitment campaign is under way and the vacancies have been advertised widely in the technical and national press.