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19 Dec 2002 : Column 1004W—continued
Economic Inactivity
Mr. Flight: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people aged between 50 and state pension age were economically inactive in each year since 1998. [86661]
19 Dec 2002 : Column 1005W
Mr. Nicholas Brown: The information is in the table:
| Year/quarter | Number of economically inactive people aged 50-State pension age | Percentage of 50-State pension age population |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | ||
| Spring | 2,569,000 | 31.3 |
| Summer | 2,568,000 | 31.0 |
| Autumn | 2,549,000 | 30.6 |
| Winter | 2,546,000 | 30.4 |
| 1999 | ||
| Spring | 2,577,000 | 30.7 |
| Summer | 2,609,000 | 30.9 |
| Autumn | 2,600,000 | 30.6 |
| Winter | 2,616,000 | 30.7 |
| 2000 | ||
| Spring | 2,594,000 | 30.3 |
| Summer | 2,592,000 | 30.1 |
| Autumn | 2,610,000 | 30.2 |
| Winter | 2,597,000 | 29.9 |
| 2001 | ||
| Spring | 2,600,000 | 29.8 |
| Summer | 2,594,000 | 29.7 |
| Autumn | 2,613,000 | 29.8 |
| Winter | 2,621,000 | 29.8 |
| 2002 | ||
| Spring | 2,614,000 | 29.6 |
| Summer | 2,587,000 | 29.2 |
Notes:
1. Figures have been seasonally adjusted.
2. The data in this table have been adjusted to reflect the 2001 Census population data, but may be subject to further adjustment.
3. Denominator of the rate is all people in the age group.
Source:
Labour Force Survey
Employment Zones
Mr. Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) how many people have been helped into sustained employment via the Employment Zone scheme (a) in each year since its introduction and (b) broken down according to each employment zone; and what his definition of sustained employment is for this purpose; [85974]
- (2) how much has been (a) budgeted and (b) spent on the Employment Zone scheme in each year since its introduction (i) in total and (ii) in each zone; and if he will make a statement. [85976]
Mr. Nicholas Brown [holding answer 9 December 2002]: Between April 2000, when they were launched, and September 2002, Employment Zones have helped 29,144 people into work. Of these, 21,001 have been helped into sustained employment (i.e. jobs lasting more than 13 weeks).
Information on the number of people helped into sustained employment in each Employment Zone is in the following table. The majority of Contract 1 job outcomes have been notified to the Department. A large number of participants recruited onto Contract 2 remain on the programme. Their job outcomes will continue to be notified to, and validated by, the Department. The Contract 2 figures will, therefore, continue to increase.
19 Dec 2002 : Column 1006W
| Employment zone | April 2000– July 2001 (Contract 1) | July 2001– June 2002 (Contract 2) |
|---|---|---|
| Birmingham | 2,847 | 1,421 |
| Brent | 702 | 248 |
| Brighton and Hove | 872 | 330 |
| Doncaster and Bassetlaw | 457 | 324 |
| Glasgow | 1,790 | 598 |
| Haringey | 1,814 | 367 |
| Liverpool and Sefton | 1,691 | 658 |
| Middlesbrough, Redcar and Cleveland | 593 | 233 |
| Newham | 876 | 304 |
| North West Wales | 300 | 47 |
| Nottingham | 297 | 248 |
| Plymouth | 469 | 187 |
| Southwark | 1,165 | 522 |
| Tower Hamlets | 592 | 356 |
| Heads of the Valley, Caerphilly and Torfaen | 432 | 261 |
Note:
Employment Zones vary in size and coverage.
Source:
Employment Zone Management Information
Information on the total budget and expenditure on the Employment Zone initiative is as follows:
| Total budget | Total expenditure | |
|---|---|---|
| 2000–01 | 56.4 | 72.0 |
| 2001–02 | 87.0 | (37)95.5 |
| 2002–03 | 91.3 | Not yet available |
(37) Forecast
Source:
Jobcentre Plus
These increases reflect a rise in the number of Employment Zone clients, and the high level of performance achieved by the zones.
Information on budgets and expenditure for individual Employment Zones cannot be published because they are commercially confidential. Both budget and expenditure figures include benefit equivalent payments made to participants while on the Employment Zone.
Based on the April 2000—June 2001 cohort study, the average cost per job in Employment Zones is around #3,400. The cohort study covers those people who have completed their time on the Employment Zone.
Health and Safety
Andrew Bennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) how many inspections per band 3 inspector are made on average in the North West Division of the Health and Safety Executive each working week; and what proposals there are to increase the frequency of inspections, excluding complaint and accident investigations; [84775]
- (2) what action has been taken to increase the inspection rate of principal inspectors and band 3 inspectors at the North West Division Office of the Health and Safety Executive. [84776]
Mr. Nicholas Brown: In the 25 working weeks between 7 April 2002—the start of the Health and Safety Executive's Field Operations Directorate's working
19 Dec 2002 : Column 1007W
year—and 28 September 2002—half-year stage—each band 3 operational inspector in HSE's North West Division made, on average, two inspection contacts per week. In addition, on average, each band 3 operational inspector made one investigation contact, one complaint follow-up contact and one enforcement contact per week.
These figures do not include any inspection or other contacts made by HSE's Construction Division or other operating directorates in the North West.
A number of actions have been taken to increase the contact time of band 3 inspectors in HSE's Field Operations Directorate and work continues to explore further steps. These actions will allow more work involving direct contact with duty-holders to take place; this includes investigation work as well as inspections. Actions being investigated or taken include: (i) enabling administrative staff to input data relating to inspection contacts; (ii) increasing direct administrative resource to support inspectors; (iii) providing better information on the work of inspectors to allow management support
19 Dec 2002 : Column 1008W
to be given to those who need it most and (iv) promulgating best practice by those inspectors who achieve the highest proportion of their time inspecting.
Principal Inspectors (band 2) are a management grade and are not set targets for inspection work. They carry out operational work according to need and for a number of reasons, including to remain familiar with work conditions and practices, to monitor the standards of their staff and to train new staff.
HSE does not measure, nor have a target for, the frequency of inspections to particular workplaces except for those where risks are highest. HSE targets most inspections according to hazard and risk. The Field Operations Directorate is currently investigating ways of increasing the proportion of time inspectors spend in contact with duty holders.
The role of an operational band 3 inspector is not limited to inspections: around 50 per cent. of their available time is spent dealing with reactive work, ie: incident and complaint investigation. In the first 25 weeks of 2002–03 operational band 3 inspectors in the North West Division made a total of 3,571 regulatory contacts, broken down as in the table:
| Inspection | Enforcement | RIDDOR investigation | Complaint follow-up | Others | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total contacts of type | 1,539 | 517 | 875 | 402 | 238 |
| Numbers per Band 3 Inspector per week | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0.5 |
Andrew Bennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what formal qualifications the (a) Director General and (b) Deputy Director General (Operations) of HSE have in health and safety management. [84779]
Mr. Nicholas Brown: Following open competition, both appointments were made by the Health and Safety Commission and approved by the relevant Secretary of State. The principal requirements are the ability to direct and manage a large and complex organisation. Neither have specific health and safety management qualifications. However, they have access to advice on the management of health and safety issues from HSE's staff who collectively have comprehensive and authoritative expertise. I am advised that both are fully acquainted with health and safety legislation, to perform their official functions in HSE as well as management of the organization.
Mr. Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many companies were (a) investigated by the Health and Safety Executive and (b) convicted of health and safety offences in 2001–02 in (i) the North East and (ii) the UK; and what the average fine was for companies convicted of health and safety offences in each year from 1997–2002 in (A) the North East and (B) the UK. [86489]
Mr. Nicholas Brown: The number of companies (a) investigated by the Health and Safety Executive and (b) convicted of health and safety offences in 2001–02 in (i) the North East and (ii) Great Britain is as follows.
| Companies investigated | Companies convicted | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | North East | Great Britain | North East | Great Britain |
| 2001–02(38),(39) | 635 | 6,994 | 48 | 691 |
(38) From 1 April 2001 to 31 March 2002
(39) Provisional
The second and third columns of the table give figures for investigations of reports made under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases, and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995. In some of these companies more than one incident may have been investigated.
The average fine imposed on companies convicted of health and safety offences in each year from 1997–98 to 2001–02 in (A) the North East and (B) Great Britain is as follows:
| Average Fine | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | North East | Great Britain |
| 2001–02(40) | 3,464 | 11,722 |
| 2000–01 | 7,208 | 8,073 |
| 1999–2000 | 4,358 | 9,034 |
| 1998–99 | 3,908 | 4,303 |
| 1997–98 | 3,900 | 6,222 |
(40) Provisional
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