HC Deb 15 March 1991 vol 187 cc691-2W
Mr. Kirkwood

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will publish in theOfficial Report the grades and salary scales of officers in the pollution inspectorate;

(2) what staff complement is considered necessary to enable his Department to discharge its duties in the field of pollution inspection; and how many vacancies currently exist for pollution inspectors.

Mr. Baldry

I refer the hon. Member to the answer my hon. Friend the Minister for the Environment and Countryside gave the hon. Member for Dewsbury (Mrs. Taylor) on 24 January,Official Report, column 269. To meet its increased responsibilities for integrated pollution control under the Environmental Protection Act 1990, Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution's staff complement has been authorised to expand from 233 to over 300 by 1 April 1992 and may thereafter need to increase up to around 400 when integrated pollution control is in full operation.

Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution currently has 14 vacancies for pollution inspectors. These vacancies, and the authorised new posts, will be filled from the recent recruitment exercise which produced 38 successful applicants.

The grades and current national rates of pay for pollution inspectors are listed below.

Minimum of scale Maximum of scale Maximum of performance range points
Grade £ £ £
Assistant pollution inspector (HPTO) 18,195 19,681 n/a
Pollution inspector (SPTO) 20,059 26,121 31,150
Principal pollution inspector (grade 7) 24,997 29,809 35,451
Superintending pollution inspector (grade 6) 27,229 35,451 41,681
Minimum of scale Maximum of scale Maximum of performance range points
Grade £ £ £
National rates of pay for pollution inspectors will increase from 1 April 1991 to:
21,905 29,809 35,451

Consequential increases for more senior inspector grades are currently under discussion with staff representatives.