HC Deb 27 October 1988 vol 139 cc384-5W
Mr. Strang

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the current staffing level of nurses in the employment medical advisory service; how many posts are unfilled; how many applications were received for the last advertisement; how many people were offered jobs; and how many of these accepted.

Mr. Nicholls

On 1 October 1988, 45 nurses were employed in the Health and Safety Executive's employment medical advisory service. Three full-time and four part-time posts are unfilled. The most recent recruitment competition attracted 11 applications. An offer of employment will be made to the three successful candidates in the near future.

Mr. Strang

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the current staffing level for doctors in the employment medical advisory service; how many posts are unfilled; how many applications were received for the last job advertisement; how many people were offered jobs; and how many of these people accepted the offer.

Mr. Nicholls

On 1 October 1988, 45 doctors were employed in the Health and Safety Executive's employment medical advisory service. Five posts are vacant. The most recent recruitment competition attracted 25 applications. Offers of employment will be made to seven successful candidates in the near future. Five candidates will be offered posts in the Employment Medical Advisory Service with the remaining two filling vacancies in the Health and Safety Executive's medical division head office.

Mr. Strang

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will make a statement on the ways in which the employment medical advisory service will encourage the development of occupational health services in industry.

Mr. Nicholls

The Health and Safety Commission has embarked on a programme to encourage employers to review their specific needs for health advice and make suitable arrangements for obtaining it. This includes the publication of guidance and promotional activities intended to raise awareness of occupational health issues and to create the right atmosphere for action by employers. It also involves encouragement to employers already making adequate provision to make their facilities more widely available. The employment medical advisory service is playing a central role in these activities.

Mr. Strang

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the role of doctors and nurses employed by the EMAS in relation to the introduction of Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations; and what additional staff resources will be made available to effect this.

Mr. Nicholls

Responsibility for implementing requirements in the COSHH regulations for medical surveillance rests with employers. The employment medical advisory service will continue to advise employers on these obligations and appropriate arrangements to meet them. No requirement for additional doctors and nurses is envisaged at present.