HC Deb 10 November 1948 vol 457 cc1645-6

Considered in Committee under Standing Order No. 84. —(King's Recommendation signified.)

[Mr. BOWLES in the Chair]

Motion made, and Question proposed, That, for the purposes of any Act of the present Session to amend the law relating to wireless telegraphy, it is expedient to authorise the payment out of moneys provided by Parliament of—

  1. (a) the expenses incurred by the advisory committee to be established under that Act, to such extent as may be determined by the Postmaster-General with the consent of the Treasury, including such sums in respect of the expenses of the members of the committee as may be so determined;
  2. (b) the expenses incurred by the appeal tribunal to be established under that Act, to such extent as aforesaid, including such sums by way of fees or other remuneration to, and in respect of the expenses of, the members or persons acting as members of the tribunal, as may be so determined;
  3. (c) any expenses incurred by the Postmaster-General for the purposes of that Act;
and the payment into the Exchequer of any sums received by the Postmaster-General under that Act and any fines imposed for offences under that Act." —[Mr. Wilfred Paling.]

7.50 p.m.

Mr. C. Williams

I should like to ask the Government to give us a little information on paragraph (c). First, can the Postmaster-General give us any sort of idea of the expenses that may be incurred under this Money Resolution? It will be seen that it says: any expenses incurred by the Postmaster-General for the purposes of that Act; and the payment into the Exchequer of any sums received by the Postmaster-General under that Act and any fines imposed for offences under that Act. I am sure that the Government have collected some information on this subject. A little time ago we were reminded that this might involve a vast number of officials at some period, and it is only right that we should take this opportunity to get some information on the subject. How many officials will be required for putting this particular part of the Measure into operation?

Mr. Wilfred Paling

I cannot say how many. As the hon. Member will appreciate, the question of manpower is concerned here. As I stated earlier today, a number of our people are already engaged in this business and they ate doing it fairly satisfactorily in the great majority of cases. The cost of this service has been given, and it may be that if things do not go as well as we hope, we may have to put a few more people on to it.

Mr. Williams

Fifty?

Mr. Paling

I do not know how many. It would depend on circumstances and the way things develop. The cost has been given as £125,000.

Mr. Williams

That is not very satisfactory. We cannot be left to live on hope for ever. We as a nation are concerned with manpower, and yet it is proposed under this Bill that a good many new officials will be employed for the purpose of prosecuting the women of this country because of things they do in their homes. All I can say is that I hope none at all will be needed, and that it is a great pity that the Postmaster-General did not definitely promise that he would put only one or two officials to deal with the matter. We are used to the Minister of Food employing a large number of officials. I am glad that the Postmaster-General is willing to cut the number necessary.

Mr. Paling

My hope is to be able to cut down the number.

Resolution to be reported upon Monday next.