HC Deb 12 August 1913 vol 56 cc2455-6

(1) The Commissioners of Works, with the consent of the Treasury, shall appoint one or more inspectors of ancient monuments, and it shall be the duty of those inspectors to report to the Commissioners of Works on the condition of ancient monuments and on the best mode of preserving them.

(2) There shall be paid, out of moneys provided by Parliament, to any inspectors so appointed, such remuneration and allowance for expenses as may be determined by the Treasury.

Mr. BOOTH

This is a Clause which appoints inspectors, and therefore increases the number of such officials. I shall never, until I change my mind, allow such increases of inspectors without a protest. I do not wish to be unreasonable, the Clause says one or more inspectors. I should like to know how many inspectors it is intended to appoint, what will be the salaries, and what amount of funds they will spend. If they have only to spend £19,000 per annum then clearly one inspector is all that is required. It was owing to this suggestion that I moved my Amendment to the Money Resolution, because I could not see, if the present small rate of expenditure is made permanent, any need for a large increase of staff. This Clause seems to contemplate a number of new appointments, and I want to know if new expenditure is also contemplated. I want the hon. Member to indicate what are the schemes in hand, and if the Commissioners of Works have a large number of monuments in mind. I do not want specific information. Are the inspectors going round looking for them with telescopes?

Mr. HOGGE

Are these inspectors simply to inspect the structure or are they to be men with knowledge of the historic qualities of the monuments?

Mr. BENN

This Clause gives no new powers whatever to the First Commissioner of Works. These are Clauses carried forward from previous Acts which are consolidated in this Bill. We have one inspector who is an antiquary with a knowledge of archaeology. The salaries will be subject to Treasury control and will be fixed in the usual way in consultation with that Department.

Mr. BOOTH

What is the present salary?

Mr. BENN

The present inspector gets only £400. That is not adequate, and it is not intended to continue it at that rate.