§ 64. Mr. C. S. Taylorasked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that his Department's Circular 171/48, dated 10th November, 1948, will involve local authorities in much work; and whether he will give an estimate of the number of additional staff to be employed for the sorting and checking of the forms by identity numbers.
§ Mr. BevanI appreciate that the review will involve some additional work, and for that reason the information asked for has been reduced to the minimum. The answer to the second part of the Question is "None."
§ Mr. TaylorCan the right hon. Gentleman say whether this change is going to be effective, as he is only asking for the identity numbers of those on the housing list, and if husband and wife both apply for houses in different areas they will have different identity numbers?
§ Mr. BevanI think that it can be taken for granted that the number, when we have it, would be sufficiently near to the facts to give us a reasonably realistic estimate of the need.
§ Mr. TaylorIn that case would not it be just as effective to ask the local authorities to supply their present lists and check up on them?
Mr. H. D. HughesWhere the local authorities are satisfied that their list is 556 up-to-date, will the Ministe consider allowing them to complete the information from their existing records?
§ Mr. BevanWhere the local authorities have the information that is being asked for, they will, of course, put it in their return.