asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many candidates were successful arising from the spring 1979 open competition for Her Majesty's Factory Inspectorate; and how many vacancies still remain in the inspectorate.

Inspector of Factories Class 11	27
Chemical Inspectors of Factories (Occupational Hygiene and Fire and Explosion)	3
Engineering Inspectors of Factories (Mechanical)	Seven plus one candidate in duty April 1980
Electrical Inspectors of Factories	1

Further competitions were held in the autumn of 1979 from which it is hoped that about 35 appointments will be made by March 1980.The future recruitment of factory inspectors is at present being reassessed in the light of the Government's announced policy on cuts in the Health and Safety Executive.