§ Mr. MeacherTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish in theOfficial Report (a) the number of registered premises under the factory inspectorate and the number of factory visits by factory inspectors and (b) how frequently, on average, industrial premises can expect a routine visit from a factory inspector, for each year from 1974 to 1987, inclusive.
§ Mr. NichollsThe Health and Safety Executive does not hold information on the number of premises registered with the factory inspectorate for the years 1974 to 77.
314WThe number of registered fixed premises for the years 1978 to 1987 is as follows:
Date Number of premises 1 January 1978 280,716 1 January 1979 300,718 1 January 1980 309,915 1 January 1981 309,100 1 1 January 1982 576,456 1 January 1983 468,609 1 January 1984 393,237 31 March 1985 395,860 31 March 1986 399,885 31 March 1987 401,815 1 The figure for 1982 is the first of those produced from a computerised database which was based on the Department of Employment census. The database was initially inflated by premises for which the Health and Safety Executive was not the enforcing authority. Factory inspectors made 153,835 visits to factories in 1974. Information for the years 1975 to 1987 is not readily available and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
The factory inspectorate's programme of preventive visits is planned on the basis of a rating system. There is no fixed period between inspections, workplaces with poor standards, poor management or high risk potential being inspected more frequently. Information is not available on how frequently, on average, industrial premises can expect a routine visit from a factory inspector.