§ Mr. PikeTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how often since 1998 inspectors from the Health and Safety Executive have(a) made (i) announced and (ii) unannounced visits to asbestos removal sites and (b) entered the asbestos stripping enclosure during both such types of visit; and if he will make a statement. [23891]
§ Dr. WhiteheadI have been asked to reply.
(a) Health and Safety Executive inspectors have the discretion to decide whether to announce their visits in advance or whether to arrive on site unannounced. The system for recording the number of visits made by HSE inspectors does not differentiate between the two. The number of visits made by HSE inspectors since 1998 is as follows:
Visits 1998–99 1,023 1999—2000 974 2000–01 951 (b) The Health and Safety Executive do not gather information about the number of HSE inspectors who enter asbestos stripping enclosures during visits to asbestos work.