§ Mr. BurstowTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list(a) the number of workplace inspections made by Health and Safety Executive inspectors and (b) the number of prohibition notices that were issued for each of the last four years. [20404]
§ Angela EagleHSE inspectors carry out a range of different types of workplace inspections, for example proactive or planned inspections; visits associated with special projects; visits connected with enforcement matters; and advisory visits. During their visits, inspectors may issue a prohibition or "stop" notice on a dangerous activity if the circumstances warrant it. Over the past four years HSE inspectors made the following numbers of planned inspections:
- 1993–94: 156,233;
- 1994–95; 146,330;
- 1995–96: 124,010;
- 1996–97: 115,728.
Over those years inspectors issued the following numbers of prohibition notices:
- 1993–94: 4,105;
- 1994–95; 4,296;
- 1995–96: 3,467;
- 1996–97: 3,627.
§ Mr. BurstowTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the number of factories that were revealed not to be registered with the Health and Safety Executive following visits by HSE inspectors in each of the last four years. [20405]
§ Angela EagleI regret that the information requested is not recorded by the Health and Safety Executive and cannot therefore be supplied. Not all occupiers of workplaces for which HSE enforces health and safety are required to register with HSE. HSE's primary concern is with conditions in workplaces, regardless of how they came to its attention. To identify those factories which were first recorded following visits by HSE inspectors would involve a disproportionate cost.
§ Dr. KumarTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement regarding increases in budget provision of the Health and Safety Executive in this Parliament. [21391]
§ Angela EagleThe Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions announced its spending priorities for 1998–99 on Tuesday 16 December 1997,Official Report, column 158–59, which include an extra £4.5 million for health and safety. This budget increase 348W reflects the Health and Safety Commission's estimates of the amount required to maintain direct field activity at 1996–97 and 1997–98 levels, to reinforce activity on railways and major hazards, and to start work on other agreed priorities, including increased promotion of occupational health (especially further action on stress and asbestos), continuing initiatives directed towards small firms, and protection of homeworkers.
Provision for future years will be announced in the summer, following the completion of the Government-wide Comprehensive Spending Review and discussion of priorities.