Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many Health and Safety Executive employees worked on chemicals regulation in (a) 2016, (b) 2017, (c) 2018, (d) 2019, (e) 2020 and (f) May 2021.

The Health and Safety Executive’s Chemicals Regulation Division (CRD) regulates the supply and conditions for subsequent use of chemicals in Great Britain to ensure both environmental and human health protections are provided.

In preparing for the UK’s exit from the EU HSE assessed the resources required to continue to regulate chemicals supply onto the market following EU exit. This assessment identified the need for CRD to recruit additional staff and expertise for 1 January 2021. Further recruitment is planned during 2021/22 workyear and beyond.

The number of Health and Safety Executive employees working in CRD regulating the supply and use of chemicals are: