HC Deb 11 December 1987 vol 124 cc281-2W
Miss Mowlam

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will express the number of visits made by factory inspectors in the north-east in 1986–87 as a proportion of the total number of factories in the area.

Mr. Nicholls

It is not possible without disproportionate cost to separate the number of visits made to factories from those made to other premises where the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 is enforced by HSE's factory inspectorate.

Miss Mowlam

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many factory inspectors were in post in each of the five years in the north-east region; and how many of the anticipated increase in the number of factory inspectors will be located in the north-east region.

Mr. Nichollas

The number of factory inspectors in the Health and Safety Executive's north-east area over the past five years is as follows:

1 April Numbers
1983 32
1984 31
1985 31
1986 30
1987 (April) 31
1987 (November) 27

The Health and Safety Commission and Executive plan to increase the number of inspectors in the factory inspectorate by about 35 above present levels during 1988–89. Decisions on when the additional inspectors will be located have not yet been taken.