§ Mrs. Ann TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what is the current staff complement of Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution; and how many staff will be in post by the end of the current financial year;
(2) how many inspectors and how many administrative staff are employed by Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution; and what the numbers are expected to be for the next financial year;
(3) how many staff will ultimately be required to enforce integrated pollution control.
§ Mr. TrippierThere are currently 220 staff in post in Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution (HMIP)—115 professional and 105 administrative staff.
The approved complement for the end of the current financial year has recently been increased from 223 to 248, and the approved complement for the end of 1991–92 to over 300. HMIP will therefore continue to recruit and expand during 1991–92.
Thereafter, complement may need to be increased further as IPC is progressively implemented and HMIP's workload increases further. Provisional assessments suggest that HMIP may ultimately require a total staff of up to around 400 when IPC is in full operation, but these assessments are subject to practical experience of operating IPC and are being kept under review.
When HMIP was formed in April 1987 from the merger of three previous inspectorates, there were 133 staff in post. The substantial increase in HMIP's strength demonstrates the Government's commitment to the highest standards of environmental protection.
Recruitment of further pollution inspectors is now in progress. Salary scales have been increased by 18 per cent., and this has overcome the recruitment difficulties previously experienced. The competition currently in progress has attracted nearly 600 good-quality applicants, showing a very encouraging level of interest among scientists in joining the inspectorate and being involved in its work of protecting the environment.
268Weconomic, environmental and social categories are shown below. The urban programme regions are cross-referenced to standard regions.
The table shows the detailed complement and staff-in-post figures for HMIP since its formation in April 1987.
Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Pollution staffing1 1 April 19872 1 January 1991 1 April 1991 1 April 1992 Complement 199 223 248 3300–310 Staff in post 133 220 — — 1 All figures exclude the former Radioactive Waste Policy and Administrative Division, (25 administrative, two professional staff) which transferred from Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Pollution to the DOE Directorate of Pollution Control and Waste in November 1990. 2 Date of formation of Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Pollution. 3 Provisional figures.