§ Mr. AllenTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many Health and Safety Executive factory inspectors have been employed(a) as a whole and (b) on factory visits for each year since 1979 (i) in the Nottingham area and (ii) in the east midlands; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. NichollsThe Health and Safety Executive's factory inspectors operate through an area office network. The numbers of factory inspectors based at the north midlands and east midlands area offices since 1979 are as follows:
Area location North Midlands (Nottingham) East Midlands (Northampton) 1979 29 29 1980 31 29 1981 30 26 1982 29 24 1983 26 23 1984 25 23 1985 27 23 1986 23 25 1987 23 26 1988 21 24.5 19891 21 25 All factory inspectors employed at the Health and Safety Executive's area offices undertake factory visits.
For 1988–89 the Government increased provision to the commission by £6.7 million gross above the level previously planned. In 1989–90 planned provision will be enhanced by a further £8.8 million gross, allowing for gross expenditure of £118.3 million. The planned provision for 1989 to 1992 allows for real growth in the Health and Safety Executive's activities over the next three years. This will enable the executive to increase the number of inspectors including factory inspectors.