asked the Secretary of State for Employment what representations he has received from the mining industry about the under-recruitment of the mines and quarries inspectorate.

[pursuant to his reply, 15 November 1979]: In August 1979, the secretary of the National Union of Mineworkers wrote to my right honourable Friend expressing concern about vacancies in the mines and quarries inspectorate. I am also informed that the chairman of the Health and Safety Commission and the former chief inspector of mines met a delegation from the National Union of Mineworkers in August 1979 to discuss recruitment difficulties.