§ Mr. Andrew MitchellTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement about the manpower resources of the pollution inspectorate.
§ Mr. TrippierI gave details of Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution (HMIP) staffing to the House earlier today.
In January I announced that HMIP had been allocated over 80 new posts, to enable it to expand to 313 staff by 1 April 1992. I indicated that HMIP's resources would be kept under review in the light of its responsibilities for implementing the new system of integrated pollution control (IPC) under the Environmental Protection Act 1990.
I have now authorised a further increase of around 50 staff, raising HMIP's 1992–93 complement to over 360 staff, effective from April 1992. This compares with a total of 133 staff in post when HMIP set up in April 1987, and underlines the Government's commitment to the highest standards of environmental protection.
Recruitment of the additional pollution inspectors is in progress, with over 1,600 applications for the posts. This shows a high level of interest in HMIP and its responsibilities for protecting the environment.
HMIP's manpower requirements for later years will be kept under review as IPC is progressively implemented and the inspectorate's workload increases further.
The following table gives details of HMIP's complement and staff-in-post figures since its formation in April 1987.
There are currently (1 November 1991) 270 staff in post.
HMIP staffing 1987–19921 Complement Staff in post April 19872 199 133 April 1988 3183 157 April 1989 194 165 April 1990 212 172 April 1991 248 232 April 1992 previously 313 — now increased to: over 4360 — November 1991 270 Notes:
1All figures exclude the former Radioactive Waste Policy and Administration Division, which transferred from HMIP to the DOE Directorate of Pollution Control and Waste in November 1990 (28 staff).
2Date of formation of HMIP.
Government capital expenditure on housing—England Cash 1990–91 prices Percentage of GDP (£ million) (£ million) gross1 net2 gross1 net2 gross1 net2 1984–85 26,23.0 2,576.0 3,732.1 3,665.2 0.8 0.8 1985–86 2,564.8 2,460.1 3,458.4 3,317.2 0.7 0.7 1986–87 2,422.4 2,290.3 3,162.4 2,989.9 0.6 0.6 1987–88 2,446.0 2,322.4 3,028.5 2,875.5 0.6 0.5 1988–89 2,389.1 2,246.8 2,759.9 2,595.5 0.5 0.5 1989–90 2,451.6 2,324.5 2,659.6 2,521.7 0.5 0.5 1990–91 3,121.4 3,042.9 3,121.4 3,042.9 0.6 0.5 1991–92 estimate 3,707.1 3,614.1 3,464.6 3,377.7 0.6 0.6 1 Housing Corporation gross capital expenditure (including use of receipts), local authority capital (excluding authorities' self-financed expenditure), and other capital expenditure (including, in 1991–92 only, Housing Action Trusts). 2 As 1 less Housing Corporation receipts. Gross Government capital expenditure on housing does not include local authorities' self-financed expenditure and net expenditure does not take account of
308W3Drop in complement due to transfer of waste policy functions and 11 staff to DOE Waste Management Division in 1987–88.
4Provisional figure.