To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many site inspections were made by Health and Safety Executive factory inspectors in (a) 1993–94, (b) 1994–95, (c) 1995–96 and (d) 1996–97. [30959]

The number of site inspections carried out by inspectors in HSE's Field Operations Directorate in each of the years specified was:

Year	Number of site inspections
1993–94	152,014.00
1994–95	142,132.00
1995–96	120,080.00
1996–97	108,174.00

In 1996–97 another 3,425 inspections were completed by inspectors in HSE's newly-created Chemical and Hazardous Installations Division (CHID). In the years 1993–94 to 1995–96 most of CHID's field inspectors had worked in and contributed to the outputs of the Field Operations Directorate.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what percentage of major injuries were investigated by the Health and Safety Executive in (a) 1993–94, (b) 1994–95, (c) 1995–96 and (d) 1996–97. [30962]

The percentage of major injuries investigated by the Health and Safety Executive's Field Operations Directorate is set out in the table.

Year	Percentage of major injuries investigated
1993–94	15.40
1994–95	15.30
1995–96	12.20
1996–971	4.30
1Provisional.

Changes in the definition of a major injury under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995 mean that direct comparisons between 1996–97 and earlier years cannot be made. Many injuries which would have been over-3-day injuries under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1985 are now classed as major injuries.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many Health and Safety Executive inspectors were employed in (a) 1993–94, (b) 1994–95, (c) 1995–96 and (d) 1996–97; and how many are currently employed. [30960]

The following table shows the number of inspectors, employed by the Health and Safety Executive.

Year (1 April)	Inspectors
1993	1532.00
1994	1572.50
1995	1477.60
1996	1466.00
1997	1442.20
1 February 1998	1445.50

Figures given are full-time equivalent counts: part-time staff were counted as half units until 1 April 1995; since then they are counted on the basis of the proportion of a full week that they work.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what percentage of notified asbestos removal operations were inspected by the Health and Safety Executive in (a) 1993–94, (b) 1994–95, (c) 1995–96 and (d) 1996–97. [30963]

The information requested is not collated and kept centrally by the Health and Safety Executive. However, from 1 April 1995 to 31 March 1996 HSE visited 9 per cent. of all notifications required under the Asbestos (Licensing) Regulations 1983.The corresponding figures from 1 April 1996 to 31 March 1997 HSE's Regions were: