37. Mr. SHIRLEY BENNasked whether the appointment in England of officers under Section 57 of the National Insurance Act rests entirely with the Insurance Commissioners, with no need for the approval of the Treasury except, as to the number of offices; whether the Welsh Insurance Commissioners have similar powers in Wales under Section 82, the approval of the Treasury only being required of the offices to be created and not of the officers to be appointed; and whether all appointments made under these Sections have in fact been made by the Commissioners without the interference of the Treasury?
§ The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the TREASURY (Mr. Masterman)The approval of the Treasury is required for each appointment made under Section 82 of the National Insurance Act. In general the Treasury does not interfere with such individual appointments, except so far as the requirement of certain general qualifications; and in one case, the recommendation of the appointment of assistant secretary in Wales, the Treasury have held a knowledge of the Welsh language to be a necessary qualification for the office.
Mr. SHIRLEY BENNHow does the right hon. Gentleman reconcile that answer with the specific undertaking given to this House on the 29th November by the Chancellor of the Exchequer that the officials would be appointed not by the Government, but by the Insurance Commissioners on their own responsibility?
§ Mr. MASTERMANCertainly. There is no question of appointments by the Government or by the Treasury. There is a question of laying down certain qualifications as being necessary for certain officials, and within that limit the Commissioners have a perfectly free hand.
§ Mr. MITCHELL-THOMSONDo the Treasury claim the same power in the case of appointments by the English Commissioners as in the case of the Welsh Commissioners?
§ Mr. MASTERMANThere is a distinction made in the Act between the various Commissioners.