§ 61. Sir HARRY BRITTAINasked the Minister of Health what number of new officials in his Department will be required in the event of the Local Government Bill of 1928, becoming law.
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of HEALTH (Sir Kingsley Wood)I do not anticipate that any permanent addition to the staff of 26 my Department will be necessary in the event of the Local Government Bill becoming Law. My hon. Friend will, of course, realise that the work incidental to the inception of the scheme will involve some temporary addition to the staff, and the consequential expense is, as stated in the Financial Memorandum attached to the Bill, estimated at £50,000.
Lieut.-Colonel Sir FREDERICK HALLWill steps be taken to utilise the services of any ex-service civil servants who are available?
§ Sir K. WOODThe great bulk of the additional work required will be in connection with auditing, for which special qualifications are necessary.
§ Mr. E. BROWNIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that in the Bill there are 134 references to powers to make Orders, regulations, schemes or determinations by the Minister?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe hon. Member is giving information.
§ Mr. THURTLEMay I ask, Mr. Speaker, how long it has been in order to ask hypothetical questions of a Minister?
§ Mr. SPEAKERI did not know that it ever had been in Order.
Sir F. HALLWill my right hon. Friend take steps to find out whether there are any ex-service civil servants qualified for this work, so that their services may be utilised as far as possible?
§ Sir K. WOODMy hon. and gallant Friend will realise, from the discussions on the Bill, the exact nature of the duties to be performed.