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Further to its previous comments which concerned the application of the Convention in relation to the adoption of several decrees to reform the organization of the decentralized departments of the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Vocational Training, the Committee notes the information supplied by the Government in its report. It also notes the observations made by the CGT National Union of Social Affairs (UNAS), the General Confederation of Labour "Force ouvrière" (FO), and the French Democratic Confederation of Labour (CFDT) concerning, among other matters, the strength of the labour inspectorate, the establishment of the National Labour Inspection Council and notification to the inspectorate of serious occupational accidents. The Committee also notes the opinion adopted by the Economic and Social Council on 24 January 1996 on the labour inspectorate, summing up the functions and means of the inspectorate and submitting proposals. Among the objectives of the proposals concerning the organization and activities of the labour inspectorate are the guarantee of the independence of the inspectorate, and the priority for supervision. The Committee notes with interest that there is currently a wide-ranging debate on the labour inspectorate. It requests the Government to provide information on the specific proposals for reform of labour inspection, which may be adopted following the opinion of the Economic and Social Council in connection with the application of the Convention. The Committee is addressing a direct request to the Government on the application of Articles 5, 10, 14 and 16 of the Convention.