To ask Her Majesty's Government on what date the first advertisement will be placed for new staff to join the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate taking advantage of the new pay scales. [HL1995]

To ask Her Majesty's Government when the first offer of employment on the new pay scales will be made to staff joining the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate. [HL1996]

The new pay scales are part of the 2008 HSE pay settlement. HSE commenced pay negotiations with the trades unions on the day following clearance of our three-year pay remit by HM Treasury, 16 January 2009. Following negotiations, the final pay offer was released to staff on 27 February 2009 and the TUs are now balloting on the proposals. Results are likely to be known around the end of March 2009 and adverts for the next nuclear inspector recruitment campaign will be released w/c 23 March 2009.

To ask Her Majesty's Government by what date the full complement of staff for the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate will be in post to enable the generic design assessments to be delivered to the timescale that the Health and Safety Executive and other parts of Government have promised the nuclear industry. [HL1997]

The generic design assessment (GDA) resource plan is based on successful recruitment allowing staff with the necessary skills and experience to be in place on GDA activity by December 2009. The recruitment activity is ongoing, and if successful will enable the GDA process to be delivered by June 2011 timescale.