§ 37. Mr. HIGHAMasked the Minister of Health if he is aware that the registrar of births and deaths for the Tollington sub-district of Islington, who has held the position for nine years, is paid a salary of 1s. per entry; that the appointment is a whole-time one; and that the total salary received by the registrar in question, who is between 40 and 50 years of age, is only £105 per annum, out of which he has to provide and pay for an office, light, coal, deputy if required, and certain stationery; if he will explain why no War bonus or increase has been received by the above-mentioned up to the present time to meet the extra cost of living; what steps will be taken to remedy this state of affairs; and whether a system of promotion by seniority will be arranged whereby registrars would rise to more remunerative districts as vacancies occur?
§ Dr. ADDISONRegistrars of births and deaths are not salaried officers, and their appointments are not whole time appointments. They receive statutory fees from the public and the Guardians in respect of services which occupy different registrars for different proportions of their time. I understand that the figure stated correctly represents the total average fees received by the registrar mentioned; but I am informed that his duties by no means occupy the whole of his time. As regards the question of War bonus, I am sending the hon. member a copy of the replies on this subject which I gave to the hon. Member for Lincoln on the 10th April, 1919, and to the hon. and gallant Member for Edmonton on the 3rd ultimo. As regards the last part of the question, as the power of appointment of registrars within each Union area is vested in the Guardians for the Union, I regret that the suggestion is not practicable.