HC Deb 20 December 1988 vol 144 cc228-9W
Mr. Strang

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how much time has been spent by Health and Safety Executive inspectors on the implementation of the Food and Environment Protection Act.

Mr. Nicholls

In the first year for which the Health and Safety Executive has been the enforcing authority, 1909.9 inspector days have been expended on work related to the Food and Environment Protection Act.

Mr. Strang

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will place in the Library a copy of the guidance on the interpretation and enforcement of the Food and Environment Protection Act and its regulations that is issued to the agricultural inspectorate.

Mr. Nicholls

No. The internal guidance is provided to assist HSE inspectors in their interpretation of the legislation and would be unsuitable for more general readers. A guidance note on the storage of pesticides and an introductory leaflet on the Act have been published and I have placed copies of these in the Library.

Mr. Strang

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will list the work priorities which have been adjusted to accommodate Food and Environmental Protection Act work, referred to in his answer of 27 October,Official Report, column 385.

Mr. Nicholls

The only adjustments to the work priorities of the Health and Safety Executive's agricultural inspectorates to accommodate this work were an initial reduction in the number of planned inspections and a change in emphasis to concentrate more on pesticide aspects. However, the adoption of further efficiency measures did lead to an increase in the actual number of inspections undertaken during 1987–88.