To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many port businesses employing workers involved in cargo-handling activities which have commenced business since July 1989 have had their operations inspected by the Health and Safety Executive.

Information on cargo handling businesses is not recorded separately from other support services to sea transport by the Health and Safety Executive and would require a manual search of records. This could be carried out only at disproportionate cost. HSE inspectors do regularly carry out preventive inspections of port operations, including cargo handling and other transient activities. This is in addition to investigating accidents and dangerous occurrences and complaints which are reported to them.