§ 8. Mr. Harry Thorneycroftasked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that, notwithstanding the adoption of all the suggestions made in Circular 14/44, the ideal authorities are experiencing difficulties in obtaining the necessary technical staff to enable them to carry out the work which is required before employing contractors upon the advance preparation of housing sites; and whether he will, in conjunction with the other Ministers affected, make the necessary arrangements for the requisite technical staff to be made available.
§ Mr. WillinkYes, Sir. I am consulting with my colleagues as to possible arrangements.
§ Mr. ThorneycroftIs the Minister aware that it is quite useless for local authorities to make an application to the Appointments Board of the Ministry of Labour, because the majority of qualified men are now in the Royal Engineers? Should not these men be released for service with the local authorities on this important work?
§ Mr. WillinkI am aware of the difficulty in regard to technical officers, but it would be quite wrong for me to say that it would be useless to apply to my right hon. Friend's Department.