§ 68. Sir Waldron Smithersasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether, in view of the fact that the Powers of Regulation (Inspection of Land) under Defence Regulation No. 85 are no longer exercised, he will take steps to repeal it.
§ Mr. Glenvil HallI regret that the information contained in the table circulated in the OFFICIAL REPORT, in reply to a Question by the hon. Member for Abingdon (Sir R. Glynn) was misleading in one particular. Although it is true that all warrants conveying a general authority to certain Ministry of Works officers to make investigations under Regulation 85 have been withdrawn, any similar investigation which may be necessary in the future will be made only on the specific authority on each occasion of the principal establishment officer or a regional director in the Ministry of Works. I regret, therefore, that the Defence Regulation, which in any case empowers other Ministers be sides the Minister of Works to make investigations, cannot be repealed at present.
§ Sir W. SmithersWill the Government give an undertaking that when any of
| Department | Number of officials authorised to carry out inspections | |
| Admiralty | 2 | Accountants. |
| Board of Trade | 474 | Officers concerned with Price Control, coupons and manufacture of Utility Goods. |
| Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries | 1,900 | Animal Health Division Inspectors and Research Officers. |
| Ministry of Food | 1,625 | Inspectors of Food Undertakings. |
| Ministry of Works | 52 | Building Inspectors controlling licensing. |
| Ministry of Health | 51 | Alkali Inspectors (8). |
| Medical Inspectors (43). | ||
| War Damage Commission | 1,073 | Assessors of War Damage. |
| Ministry of Transport | 216 | Officers on Vehicle and Traffic Sign Inspection. |
| Ministry of Fuel and Power | 167 | Mines Inspectors. |
| Forestry Commission | 130 | District Officers. |
| Ministry of Supply | 4 | Investigation Officers. |
| Department of Scientific and Industrial Research. | 70 | Geological officers (40). |
| Scientific staff (30). | ||
| Ministry of National Insurance | 697 | |
| Ministry of Labour | 2,329 | Factory Inspectors. Wages Inspectors. Labour Supply, etc. |
| Customs and Excise | 1,800 | Officers of Customs and Excise. |
| Scottish Home Department | 64 | Inspectors of Voluntary Homes (4). |
| Dock officers (28). | ||
| Fishery officers (32) | ||
| Ministry of Agriculture for Scotland | 109 | Animal Health Division Inspectors and Research officers |
| Department ot Health for Scotland | 8 | Alkali, Housing and Public Health Inspectors. |
| Tithe Commission | 145 | Surveyors (for land inspection). |
| Total | 10,916 |
§ these Regulations become unworkable and unusable they will be withdrawn?
§ Mr. HallI think I can give that undertaking. Obviously, the Government do not want to continue powers which have ceased to be essential.