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Health and Safety Executive
Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many internal and external advertisements were placed from 1997 to 2000 for inspector vacancies in the Hull office which stated that Hull was the location for the post; and if he will place copies of such advertisements in the Library. [128792]
Mr. Meacher: External recruitment of inspectors is conducted on a national basis and recruitment adverts do not state a particular location for posts. Our records show that no advertisements for Inspectors have stated Hull as the location for a post since 1997.
Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many educational and promotional visits were made by HSE inspectors to locations in (a) Hull, (b) East Riding, (c) North Lincolnshire and (d) North East Lincolnshire from 1974 to 2000; and in which offices the visiting speakers were based. [128793]
Mr. Meacher: The data provided are for 1996 onwards. Data pre 1996 are available only at disproportionate cost.
| Year | Hull | East Riding | North Lincolnshire | North East Lincolnshire |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996-97 | 18 | 9 | 7 | 12 |
| 1997-98 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| 1998-99 | 12 | 11 | 2 | 6 |
| 1999-2000 | 13 | 10 | 0 | 9 |
HSE does not keep records of visiting speakers. However, our records on FOCUS are able to determine how many educational and promotional visits were made to each of the named locations by Inspectors based in Hull.
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| Year | Hull | East Riding | North Lincolnshire | North East Lincolnshire |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996-97 | 11 | 6 | 2 | 3 |
| 1997-98 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| 1998-99 | 7 | 9 | 0 | 5 |
| 1999-2000 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 9 |
Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many HSE inspectors within the jurisdiction of the Hazardous Installation Directorate are located in each of the following divisions and how many Control of Major Accident Hazards sites there are by upper and lower tier in (a) Hull, (b) East Riding, (c) East Lincolnshire, (d) North East Lincolnshire, (e) Barnsley, (f) Doncaster, (g) Sheffield and (h) Rotherham. [128794]
Mr. Meacher: For the inspection of COMAH sites and other premises storing and manufacturing chemicals in the ares listed the Hazardous Installations Directorate of HSE has six Inspectors based at Sheffield, managed by a Principal Inspector. These Inspectors also cover the rest of Lincolnshire, Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire. COMAH sites operated by BG Transco are inspected by a separate group of five Inspectors, also based at Sheffield, who inspect BG Transco sites throughout the north of England. Explosives sites subject to COMAH are inspected by three HM Explosives Inspectors who cover eastern and south east England.
All these Inspectors are able to call on the advice and assistance of other HSE inspectors to provide support on a range of specialist topics.
The enforcement of COMAH is undertaken by the Competent Authority (HSE and the Environment Agency). Therefore, Environment Agency Inspectors are also involved in the inspect of COMAH sites.
The number of premises subject to COMAH in the following local authority areas are:
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| LA Area | Top Tier | TT (Gas) | TT (Exp) | Lower Tier | LT (Gas) | LT (Exp) | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (a) Hull | 1 | -- | -- | 3 | 1 | -- | 5 |
| (b) East Riding | 5 | 1 | -- | 8 | -- | 2 | 16 |
| (c) East Lincolnshire | 10 | -- | -- | 2 | 1 | -- | 13 |
| (d) North East Lincolnshire | 10 | -- | -- | 2 | 1 | -- | 13 |
| (e) Barnsley | -- | -- | -- | 2 | 1 | -- | 3 |
| (f) Doncaster | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | -- | 6 |
| (g) Sheffield | 3 | -- | -- | 4 | -- | -- | 7 |
| (h) Rotherham | 2 | -- | -- | 4 | -- | -- | 6 |
| Totals | 33 | 2 | 1 | 29 | 4 | 2 | 71 |
11 Jul 2000 : Column: 499W
Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if the costing upon which the closure of the Hull HSE office was based took account of future travel and transfer expenses; and what environmental assessment was carried out. [128795]
Mr. Meacher: I can confirm that account has been taken of future travel and transfer expenses. Consideration has been made in relation to the issue of environmental considerations, as transferring the two operational inspector posts to Sheffield will incur some additional
11 Jul 2000 : Column: 500W
mileage. It is difficult to be specific about the actual extra mileage as it will depend on where the inspectors choose to live and the operational need for visits to Humberside.
Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what discussions he held before deciding to close the HSE office in Hull with (a) local employers, (b) trade unions and (c) local authorities; over what length of time such consultations took place; and what the opinions were of those who were consulted. [128796]
11 Jul 2000 : Column: 501W
Mr. Meacher: On this occasion at the request of the Deputy Prime Minister, Bill Callaghan, Chair, Health and Safety Commission and Chris Willby, Director, HSE Yorkshire and North East have met with trade unions to discuss with them how HSE's role in the current and future issues of Hull is properly preserved.
Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many inspectors of Band 2 or equivalent and below were in (a) Health and Safety Executive offices and (b) operational inspection groups in each year between 1974 and 2000 in (i) Newcastle, (ii) Leeds, (iii) Sheffield, (iv) Hull and (v) North Allerton. [128845]
Mr. Meacher: Information is provided from 1995. Information prior to that date could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
| Date as at 1 April | Band 2 | Band 3 | Band 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 449 | 892 | 143 | 1,484 |
| 1996 | 471 | 916 | 80 | 1,467 |
| 1997 | 462 | 890 | 105 | 1,457 |
| 1998 | 460 | 895 | 105 | 1,460 |
| 1999 | 448 | 925 | 157 | 1,530 |
| 2000 | 476 | 915 | 140 | 1,531 |
| Band | Newcastle | Leeds | Sheffield | Hull | North Allerton | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 April 1995: | ||||||
| 2 | 10 | 16 | 6 | 2 | 1 | |
| 3 | 24 | 33 | 19 | 4 | 1 | |
| 4 | 6 | 9 | 6 | 2 | 1 | |
| Total | 40 | 58 | 31 | 8 | 3 | |
| 1 April 1996: | ||||||
| 2 | 7 | 15 | 5 | 2 | 1 | |
| 3 | 29 | 40 | 22 | 5 | 2 | |
| 4 | 2 | 2 | 6 | -- | -- | |
| Total | 38 | 57 | 33 | 7 | 3 | |
| 1 April 1997: | ||||||
| 2 | 7 | 15 | 5 | 2 | 1 | |
| 3 | 28 | 37 | 17 | 4 | 2 | |
| 4 | 3 | 3 | 5 | -- | -- | |
| Total | 38 | 55 | 27 | 6 | 3 | |
| 1 April 1998: | ||||||
| 2 | 6 | 14 | 6 | 2 | -- | |
| 3 | 32 | 35 | 20 | 3 | -- | |
| 4 | 3 | 5 | 5 | -- | -- | |
| Total | 41 | 54 | 31 | 5 | 0 | |
| 1 April 1999: | ||||||
| 2 | 6 | 14 | 5 | 2 | -- | |
| 3 | 35 | 36 | 25 | 3 | -- | |
| 4 | 5 | 8 | 8 | -- | -- | |
| Total | 46 | 58 | 38 | 5 | 0 | |
| 1 April 2000: | ||||||
| 2 | 6 | 15 | 5 | 2 | -- | |
| 3 | 34 | 38 | 28 | 4 | -- | |
| 4 | 8 | 8 | 7 | -- | -- | |
| Total | 48 | 61 | 40 | 6 | 0 | |
Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many premises, for which the HSE had inspection responsibility,
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were registered on HSE databases for Areas 14, 15 and 19 in each year from 1974 to 1995; and how many open incumbent records there were for each of these areas for the years 1996 to 2000. [128846]
Mr. Meacher: The question asks for data from 1974 to 2000. The Field Operations Directorate of HSE currently uses a computer data system introduced in 1996. The previous data system was in use from 1980 to 1995. The information requested is not kept in a format which allows the question to be answered. FOCUS is a dynamic record of clients and locations with which HSE has had recent and/or continuing contact. The following table gives the current number of open incumbent records categorised by role, e.g. employer, self-employed, sub-contractor etc.
| Area 14 | Area 15 | Area 19 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Employer | 21,738 | 32,260 | 23,958 |
| Self-employed | 626 | 1,631 | 1,061 |
| Partner | 112 | 284 | 173 |
| Responsible officer | 17 | 37 | 9 |
| Employee | 54 | 49 | 25 |
| Principal contractor | 2,118 | 3,146 | 1,324 |
| Sub-contractor | 1,561 | 1,660 | 860 |
| Plant hirer | 48 | 98 | 27 |
| Product supplier | 81 | 188 | 74 |
| Importer | 9 | 11 | 5 |
| Installer | 360 | 291 | 276 |
| Quarry owner | 29 | 54 | 3 |
| Competent person | 18 | 13 | 12 |
| Professional adviser | 100 | 62 | 38 |
| Vehicle operator | 113 | 29 | 37 |
| Landlord | 312 | 616 | 383 |
| Managing agent | 37 | 81 | 47 |
| Trainer | 75 | 35 | 24 |
| Employment agency | 11 | 21 | 3 |
| Others | 349 | 466 | 515 |
| Client | 186 | 269 | 113 |
| Designer | 36 | 96 | 54 |
| Planning supervisor | 164 | 303 | 100 |
| Intermediary | 4 | 6 | 6 |
Source:
FOCUS live database as at 3 July 2000
Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many site visits and contacts of all types were made by HSE inspectors in each of Areas 14, 15 and 19 in each year from 1974 to 2000. [128844]
Mr. Meacher: The following data are provided for 1996 onwards. Data pre-1996 are available only at disproportionate cost.
(17) Used when an activity/topic is dealt with at a location other than site, office or head office.
(18) Used when an activity/topic is dealt with at the head office of any client.
(19) Used when an activity/topic is dealt with at an HSE office or any other place regarded as an HSE office.
(20) Used when an activity/topic is dealt with at an incumbent's location.
Source:
FOCUS live database as at 3 July 2000
11 Jul 2000 : Column: 503W
Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many (a) site visits and (b) incumbent contacts were made to premises in Humberside County Commission area in each year from 1974 to 2000 (i) by HSE inspectors based in Hull and (ii) by all inspectors. [128847]
Mr. Meacher: The following data cover the period from 1996 onwards.
| 1996-97 | 1997-98 | 1998-99 | 1999-2000 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Site visits | 1,366 | 905 | 657 | 520 |
| Incumbent contacts | 1,718 | 1,243 | 883 | 638 |
| 1996-97 | 1997-98 | 1998-99 | 1999-2000 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Site visits | 3,481 | 2,205 | 2,193 | 2,235 |
| Incumbent contacts | 4,377 | 3,045 | 3,022 | 2,823 |
The question asks for data from 1974 to 2000. The Field Operations Directorate of HSE currently uses a computer data system introduced in 1996. The previous data system was in use from 1980 to 1995. It is no longer practicable to search in this database for the details requested. There was no database prior to 1980. Data pre-1996 are available only at disproportionate cost.
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