§ Mr. BennettTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the cost to public funds of the current early retirement scheme in the Health and Safety Executive; and how many more such schemes are envisaged for the fiscal year 1995–96. [17306]
§ Mr. OppenheimThe cost to public funds of the Health and Safety Executive 1994–95 early retirement scheme was £2.77 million during the 1994–95 financial year. On-going costs of the scheme will be approximately £1.15 million a year, diminishing as individuals reach the age of 60.
Currently there are no plans for any further early retirement schemes for HSE professional grades in HSE during the 1995–96 fiscal year.
§ Mr. BennettTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many of the employees of the Health and Safety Executive have qualifications in(a) computing, (b) personnel management, (c) accountancy, (d) management and (e) training; and how many are currently undergoing study for qualifications in these areas. [17316]
§ Mr. OppenheimThe information can be provided only at disproportionate cost.
§ Mr. BennettTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many staff who have taken early retirement from the Health and Safety Executive have subsequently been offered contracts as consultants with the Health and Safety Executive. [17307]
§ Mr. OppenheimI will write to the hon. Member, and place a copy in the Library.
§ Mr. BennettTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the current salary of the director general of the Health and Safety Executive; at what rate54W his successors position is being advertised and for what reasons; who will sit on the appointing panel; and whether salary bargaining will take place at, or before, the interviews of the shortlisted candidates. [17315]
§ Mr. OppenheimThe current salary of the director general of the Health and Safety Executive is £87,435 for the financial year 1994–95. The salary of a successor was advertised as circa £90,000, with more available for an exceptional candidate, for an appointment in June 1995. The appointing panel consists of members of the Health and Safety Commission together with a representative of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State, whose approval is required both of the appointment and the salary. No salary bargaining took place during the interviews or before them.
§ Mr. BennettTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment if the Health and Safety Executives buildings adjacent to St. Johns house in Bootle suffer from sick building syndrome; and if he will make a statement on their future. [17309]
§ Mr. OppenheimThe Health and Safety Executive has no evidence suggesting that any of its headquarters buildings at Bootle, adjacent to St. Johns house, suffer from sick building syndrome. The majority of leases at HSEs offices at Bootle headquarters expire in approximately 10 years time. HSE will be undertaking a review of its headquarters accommodation needs over the short, medium and longer terms. The outcome of that review will determine its future strategy.
§ Mr. BennettTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment what assessment he has made of the extent to which the procedure for recruiting and salary level offered to the new director general of the Health and Safety Executive complies with current public sector pay policy. [17317]
§ Mr. OppenheimThe procedure for recruitment and salary determination in the appointment of director general of the Health and Safety Executive reflects the provisions of the Health and Safety at Work, etc. Act 1974 and the Governments announced policies on the pay of the senior civil service.
§ Mr. McCartneyTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment, what are the implications for both inspection and supply services staff of the Health and Safety Executive of the Gas Bill. [18044]
§ Mr. Oppenheim[holding answer 3 April 1995]: The Health and Safety Executive will carry out a number of new tasks following the opening up to competition of the British domestic gas market. Those are set out in the Health and Safety Commissions report, Britains Gas Supply: A Safety Framework.
Copies of the report were placed in the Library on 1 March 1995.
§ Mr. McCartneyTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) if he will place in the Library all Health and Safety Executive reports on the assessment of risk management to deal with the consequences of the Gas Bill; [18047]
(2) if he will place in the Library all Health and Safety Executive reports setting out the implications, including resources, for the executive as a consequence of the Gas Bill. [18045]
§ Mr. Oppenheim[holding answer 3 April 1995]: Copies of the Health and Safety Commissions report 55W Britains Gas Supply: A Safety Framework were placed in the Library on 1 March 1995.
§ Mr. McCartneyTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish details of the numbers of additional inspection and supply staff the Health and Safety Executive will have to recruit to deal directly with the consequences of the Gas Bill. [18046]
§ Mr. Oppenheim[holding answer 3 April 1995]: The issue of how many additional staff the Health and Safety Executive will require following the opening up to competition of the British domestic gas market is still under consideration.
However, an estimate of the likely costs of the additional resources was included in the Health and Safety Commissions report Britains Gas Supply: A Safety Framework, copies of which were placed in the Library on 1 March 1995.