§ Mr. HOAREasked how many umpires and insurance officers it is proposed to appoint under Part II. of the National Insurance Bill; which of the appointments will be made after consultation with the Civil Service Commissioners; whether they will all be full-time appointments; and what will be the salaries attached to them?
§ The PRESIDENT of the BOARD of TRADE (Mr. Buxton)There will only be one umpire, but power will be taken to appoint a deputy to act in his unavoidable absence. The umpire will be assisted by a staff selected by himself. I cannot at present state the precise number of insurance officers that will be appointed to act in various districts, but I anticipate the total number of officers of various grades exercising the statutory powers of insurance officers will be between twenty and thirty. The great bulk of the appointments under Part II. (other than those of agents in rural districts and members of Courts of Referees) will be full-time appointments, made on the recommendation of the Civil Service Commissioners. I am not yet in a position to make any statement as to salaries.
§ Mr. BUXTONI should explain there is an Amendment down in consequence of a discussion in Grand Committee, making the position of the umpire, instead of an appointment by the Board of Trade, an appointment by His Majesty; and I am not, therefore, in a position to give the name until, if that Amendment is accepted, I have had an opportunity of submitting it to His Majesty.