HC Deb 02 February 1990 vol 166 cc374-5W
Mr. Andrew F. Bennett

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many staff of the Health and Safety Executive in the grade deputy superintending inspector possess formal health and safety qualifications; and what percentage of those in that grade this represents.

Mr. Nicholls

There are currently 38 staff in the grade of deputy superintending inspector. All of these have secured the formal qualification awarded on the successful conclusion of the training of a factory inspector; and five (13 per cent.) have additionally an externally validated health and safety qualification.

Mr. Andrew F. Bennett

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the Health and Safety Executive directorate of information and advisory services budget for the year 1989–90.

Mr. Nicholls

The gross budget for 1989–90 allocated to the directorate of information and advisory services (part of Resources and Planning Division) was £3.9 million. The Health and Safety Commission's planned use of resources was described in its "Plan of Work for 1989/90 and beyond" published on 3 May 1989.

Mr. Andrew F. Bennett

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what formal qualifications in occupational health and safety are held by the Health and Safety Executive's chief inspector of factories and the three deputy chief inspectors of factories.

Mr. Nicholls

The chief inspector of factories and his three deputy chief inspectors underwent the full two-year training programme, concluding in an examination in all aspects of health and safty conducted by the Civil Service Commission, which was the required formal qualification for all inspectors of factories.

Mr. Andrew F. Bennett

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the average length of time taken for inspector (specialists), within the technology division of the Health and Safety Executive, to be promoted to the grade principal specialist inspector, for the last year for which figures are available; and what was the average length of time taken in 1978.

Mr. Nicholls

The average length of time taken for inspector (specialist) within the technology division of the Health and Safety Executive to be promoted to the grade of principal specialist inspector for the promotion board held in December 1988 was seven years six months.

Comparable information for 1978 is not available.