§ Mr. Proctorasked the Secretary of State for Employment what information he has as to the numbers employed in the nuclear regulatory work force per reactor in terms of persons per unit in the United Kingdom, the United States of America, Canada, France, Japan, Sweden and the Federal Republic of Germany for the latest year for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyThere are 41 operational reactors in the United Kingdom on sites licensed by the nuclear installations inspectorate. There are at present some 150 staff in the inspectorate; other staff of the Health and Safety Executive also have responsibility for certain matters at nuclear sites. Comparable information on other countries is not available.
§ Mr. Proctorasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he is satisfied that the current level of staff of Her Majesty's nuclear installations inspectorate is adequate to enable the inspectorate to discharge its functions properly; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyThe nuclear installations inspectorate is adequately staffed.
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§ Mr. Proctorasked the Secretary of State for Employment what plans he has to recruit further inspectors to Her Majesty's nuclear installations inspectorate; how many posts are currently vacant; how many applications for those posts have been received; how many offers of employment have been made; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyThree posts out of the planned level of 102 for 1985–86 are currently vacant in the inspectorate. A recruitment campaign which it is hoped will at least fill these posts and replace likely retirements over the next 12 months is now in progress: 152 applications have been considered and 55 candidates interviewed. Offers of employment have not yet been made.
§ Mr. Proctorasked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the estimated manpower plan for Her Majesty's nuclear installations inspectorate as at 1 July; how many staff he expects to have in post at that date; whether this includes staff transferred from other parts of the Health and Safety Executive into the new policy unit; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyThere should be some 160 staff in post in the nucler installation inspectorate on 1 July. This includes staff transferred from other parts of the inspectorate and elsewhere in the Health and Safety Executive to form the London-based policy branch. There are three vacant inspector posts which should be filled later in the year.
§ Mr. Proctorasked the Secretary of State for Employment how many jobs will be created in Bootle for local employeres as a result of the dispersal of Her Majesty's nuclear installations inspectorate; and what is the estimated demand for labour from amongst the relatives of Her Majesty's nuclear installations inspectorate inspectors on their dispersal.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyIt is expected that there will be some 15 clerical and typing vacancies to be filled by local recruitment on Merseyside when the nuclear installations inspectorate disperses to Merseyside. It is not possible to assess the other effects on the local labour market, such as demand for jobs from relatives of inspectors.
§ Mr. Proctorasked the Secretary of State for Employment, pursuant to his reply of 8 May, Official
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TABLE 1 Fatal Injuries Arising at Work to Employers Reported to Enforcing Authorities Order Group Number standard Industrial Classification (68) *1979 *1980 †1981 †1982 †1983 I. Agriculture, Forestry & Fishing 34 24 31 27 29 II. Mining and Quarrying 60 63 61 70 46 III. Food, Drink and Tobacco 16 14 8 10 23 IV. Coal and Petroleum Products 6 6 3 3 1 V. Chemical and Allied Industries 13 6 7 6 10 VI. Metal Manufacture 34 21 19 27 13 VII. Mechanical Engineering 16 19 10 18 16 VIII. Instrument Engineering — 1 — — — IX. Electrical Engineering 3 2 1 8 3 X. Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering 10 8 13 8 4 XI. Vehicles 4 11 5 5 8 XII. Metal Goods not elsewhere specified 7 12 11 10 3 XIII. Textiles 4 2 6 6 5 Report, column 434, what steps he is taking to ensure that there will be no fall in standards consequent upon the move of Her Majesty's nuclear installations inspectorate to Bootle; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyThe Health and Safety Commission is determined to ensure that there will be no fall in standards resulting from Her Majesty's nuclear installations inspectorate's move to Bootle.
The Health and Safety Executive is taking steps to minimise disruption when the nuclear installations inspectorate is dispersed. Action already taken or in progress includes:
personnel management initiatives aimed at identifying and solving the problems faced by individuals;improving communications facilities between HSE's London and Bootle offices;formation of the inspectorate's policy branch which will remain in London;deferment for one year of dispersal of the inspectorate's branch dealing with Sizewell;continuing the drive to recruit more inspectors.