§ 12. Mr. HARCOURT JOHNSTONEasked the Minister of Labour upon what Vote and Sub-head the salaries of the Commissioners appointed to administer the means test in the county of Durham are borne?
§ Sir H. BETTERTONThe remuneration and expenses of Commissioners appointed to administer the needs test are borne on the Vote for the Ministry of Labour, and are charged in 1932–33 to a special Sub-head (G.4) opened for that purpose.
§ Mr. JOHNSTONEWill the right hon. Gentleman not agree that that being the case, the Commissioners have differed most essentially from the Public Assistance Committee who did the work before they were appointed and that their administration is questionable upon that Vote?
§ Sir H. BETTERTONThe time to raise that point is when such Vote is being discussed.
§ Mr. BUCHANANHas the right hon. Gentleman the right to make a charge upon the Unemployment Insurance Fund for these Commissioners seeing that they are not entrusted with the paying out of the benefit which is chargeable to that fund? Should not the whole cost be borne by the Government, as is the transitional payments to these people?
§ Sir H. BETTERTONThat is a question which the hon. Member will no doubt develop when we have the Estimates before us. I cannot reply to that point by way of question and answer.
§ 18. Mr. McKEAGasked the Minister of Labour how many additional persons have been engaged by the Commissioners in the county of Durham since their appointment to assist them in connection with the administration of transitional payments?
§ Sir H. BETTERTONFifty-five additional officers have been engaged temporarily, mainly in connection with the work of investigation. Thirty-seven officers are on loan from my Department.