§ 35. Mr. Higgsasked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that the demands of the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Home Security, the Ministry of Food, and other Ministries on the local authorities, are constantly increasing, and that at the same time municipal staffs are being still further depleted by calls to the Forces, making the proper performance of these duties in certain areas impossible; and whether he will take steps to see that local authorities are empowered to retain such trained municipal staff as are necessary to fulfil these additional Government requirements?
§ Miss HorsbrughMy right hon. Friend has recently explained to a deputation from the associations of local authorities the considerations by which the Government are guided in this matter. I can assure my hon. Friend that all material factors are, and will be, borne in mind in determining the calls which must be made on local government staffs for service with His Majesty's Forces.
§ Mr. HiggsIs my hon. Friend aware that the civic authorities of the district to which I refer are experiencing great difficulty in retaining these employés of a low medical grade?
§ Miss HorsbrughThis whole matter was gone into when the deputation was received. My hon. Friend is looking into individual cases which are brought to his notice by the local authorities.
§ Sir Joseph LambIs it not the case that this applies to all civic authorities?
§ Miss HorsbrughIt applies to all the population.