§ 96. Mr. WILLIAM GRAHAMasked the Secretary for Scotland whether his attention has been directed to the fact that, in spite of the terms of the circular issued by the Scottish Office directing the attention of local authorities to the remuneration of registrars in Scotland, and the advisability of considering increases in fees or salaries, there are still many country registrars who are being paid in accordance with the scale incorporated in the Registration Act of 1854; and whether, seeing that these officials are paid in terms of an Act nearly 70 years old, and having regard to the great rise in prices since that date, he will press the local authorities concerned to offer reasonable remuneration, in the light of present-day circumstances, for this work?
§ The SECRETARY for SCOTLAND (Mr. Munro)When the circular referred to was issued by the Registrar-General's Department last March about 200 registrars out of a total of over 1,000 were paid by fees in accordance with the scale to which the hon. Member alludes. Out of the 200, however, about one-half received a further sum supplementing the scale. The records of the Registrar-General's Department show that, after the issue of the circular, increases of remuneration were granted to registrars in numerous cases. My information does not indicate how far country registrars paid solely by fees have benefitted by such increases. I am glad, however, to take this opportunity of repeating the suggestion that local authorities should consider the remuneration of registrars in the light of present conditions if they have not already done so.