asked the Secretary of State for Employment why no limitation has been placed on inspectors who have been given full powers under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 confirming their authority to act to the relevant statutory provisions with which they are familiar.

I am advised by the Chairman of the Health and Safety Commission that although the Health and Safety Executive places no explicit limitations upon an inspector, senior officers exercise control over these activties. This allows the experience, skill and training of individual inspectors to be properly applied in the exercising of their powers.