Madeleine Moon (Bridgend, Labour)

It may help if I share with the Committee the regulatory and inspection powers that I held as an inspector. Under the heading “Authority to enter and inspect”, my card stated:

“The person named overleaf is authorised to enter and inspect premises to inspect and interview persons, to inspect arrangements, documents and other records and material and take other action in accordance with”

care standards legislation.

The hon. Member for South-East Cornwall (Mr. Breed) talked about justifiability. It will be helpful for Committee members to know that inspectors are extremely busy, and that they do not spend their time thinking, “I am a bit bored today—let me see which door I can knock on and what pesticides they’ve got.” Inspectors are often out late at night, and are sometimes out early in the morning, but only with justification. The work is busy and onerous, and actions have to be justified to line managers. I assure the hon. Gentleman that the people who he describes as worrying about receiving a knock on the door at 2 am to have their paint or garden shed examined need not worry too much.

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