78. Sir F. HALLasked the Minister of Health whether, seeing that the Bethnal Green Metropolitan Borough Council recently approved a proposal for the appointment of a medical officer of health at a salary of £800, rising to £900, a year and that his Department intervened and expressed the view that the commencing salary should be not less than £],000, and in, view of the recognised need for public economy and the fact that the salary offered by the borough council was considerably more than the income earned by a number of able highly-trained general practitioners, he will state what are the general principles which have actuated the Ministry in taking this line?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINThe salary first proposed by the borough council was considerably below the standard arrived at as appropriate to such an area after lengthy discussions between representatives of the Ministry of Health and of the British Medical Association and Society of Medical Officers of Health with the assistance of advice from gentlemen of standing in the field of local government. In the circumstances I felt it impossible to approve the proposal of the authority and have sanctioned a temporary appointment.
§ Mr. WINDSORDoes the right hon. Gentleman still consider that £4 a week is too much for the men who are doing the work of the borough and £18 a week is too little for the medical officer?