§ 32. Mr. Mackasked the Minister of National Insurance the number of applications for employment by his Department received from those falling within the category covered by paragraph 9 2 (b) of the Interim Report of the Approved Societies Staffing Advisory Committee; the number of those applicants who were interviewed by selection board; the number who received offers of appointment; the number accepting to the nearest convenient date; and if recruiting is still taking place from this category.
§ Mr. J. GriffithsThe number of, applications received from persons in the category mentioned by my hon. Friend is 7,160. Of these applicants, 4,483 were interviewed by selection boards, 3,543 have received offers of appointment, and 300 more offers are about to be made. Acceptances received to 1st July number 2,510. Subject to the results of the offers referred to, recruiting from this source has now ceased.
§ Mr. MackIs not my right hon. Friend aware that there are thousands of insurance agents possessed of the necessary knowledge of insurance and national 194 health work who are very anxious to enter the new service, and up to now relatively few, on the Minister's own figures, have been accepted? Is there no prospect in the future that some of these agents may be taken into the scheme?
§ Mr. GriffithsI am glad to say that a number of agents have been appointed to posts in the Ministry. The number of agents included in the figures which I gave is 2,150, and I think that is a fair proportion of insurance agents to be appointed.