§ Miss Boothroydasked the Secretary of State for Employment how many factories in the west midlands were visited by factory inspectors for each of the last five years for which records are available; what percentage this figure represents of the total number of factories in the area; and whether he is satisfied with the present number of factory inspectors in post in the west midlands.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyIt is not possible, without disproportionate time and cost, to separate the number of factories from the total number of premises visited by factory inspectors in the last five years.
The number of premises visited by factory inspectors in the west midlands during each of the last five years and the percentage of total premises this figure represents are as follows: 225W
Number of visits Percentage of visits in relation to total number of premises in the area Per cent. 1980 15,013 Figures not obtainable 1981 9,050 18 1982 12,958 31 1983 15,232 24 1984 14,030 17 1985* 2,392 6 * To date. I am satisfied with the number of factory inspectors in post in the west midlands.