HC Deb 06 August 1919 vol 119 cc365-6
77. Mr. HAYDN JONES

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture whether, in. view of the fact that the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries are advertising vacancies as assistant inspectors of fisheries at a commencing salary of £150 per annum and were un able or unwilling to advertise a vacancy as chief inspector of fisheries at £l,000 per annum, the instruction of the President of the 25th February last with reference to the advertisement of vacancies as inspectors only applies to the poorer paid appointments at the fisheries branch of the Board?

The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the BOARD of AGRICULTURE (Sir Arthur Boscawen)

No, Sir. The instruction of the President of the 25th February last applies to all appointments to the permanent staff of the Board without regard to the salaries attaching to them.

Major E. WOOD

Is my hon. Friend aware that considerable feeling has been caused in different parts of the country by the appointment of quite unsuitable men to posts under the Board?

Sir A. BOSCAWEN

I have not heard of that.

78. Mr. HAYDN JONES

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture what is the amount of war bonus payable to assistant inspectors of fisheries is receipt of a salary of £150 per annum; and whether, in view of the fact that the weekly wage of stokers and sea men in coastal steamers is fixed by the National Maritime Board at £3 17s. 6d., the Board consider that such a salary is a reasonable one for an assistant inspector of fisheries?

Sir A. BOSCAWEN

The amount of war bonus payable to assistant inspectors for fishery business entering at the initial salary of £150 is £92 12s. per annum. The scale of salary authorised by the Treasury for the posts in question is £150 rising by annual increments of £10 to £250 per annum, plus war bonus. Travelling and subsistence allowances on the usual scales are also payable. The question of the improvement of the position of assistant inspectors is under consideration.