§ Mr. OatenTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans the Department has to increase the number of Health and Safety inspectors over the next three years. [137821]
§ Mr. BrowneEstimates of the number of Health and Safety inspectors who will be employed in each of the next three financial years have not yet been made.
The Health and Safety Commission (HSC) is now consulting on a new strategy for the years 2004–10. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is carrying out pilot studies in new ways of working to free up resource which can be used to deliver its mission to protect peoples' 388W health and safety by ensuring risks to health and safety from the changing workplace are properly controlled. Responses to the draft strategy and the results of the pilot studies will be taken into account when deciding on the appropriate mix and number of staff (including inspectors) within HSE.
While regulation and enforcing compliance with the law remain vital elements of HSE's work, they are not the only means of achieving health and safety improvements. HSE plans to put more effort into educating, influencing and working in partnership with others (at all levels) who can help achieve further improvement in health and safety performance.