§ 23. Sir H. Williamsasked the Minister of Fuel and Power what the total staff of his Department is estimated to be when those who were engaged in petrol rationing have all left.
§ Mr. P. Noel-BakerAfter the officers who have conducted petrol rationing have all left the service of my Department, the staff will number 5,700. Of these, 2,615 are engaged on the opencast working of coal; 241 others are employed in the Mines Inspectorate.
§ Sir H. WilliamsMay I ask what the other 2,000 are doing, since the right hon. Gentleman has no responsibility for the administration of gas, coal and electricity and cannot answer Questions in the House about them?
§ Mr. Noel-BakerSome of them have to help me answer the hon. Member's Questions. About 200 are engaged on health and safety in the mines, about 85 are engaged in scientific research, 250 on the distribution of household coal, nearly 200 on advice to consumers about the use of fuel, and 200 or so on testing electricity and gas meters.
§ Sir H. WilliamsI still want to know what the other 800 are doing?
§ Mr. Noel-BakerThere has to be a general secretariat. If the hon. Member awaits the Report, he will not find that the figure is very large.
§ Mr. Godfrey NicholsonIs it in order for the Minister to refer to a report of the Select Committee which is pending?
§ Mr. Noel-BakerI will withdraw that if the hon. Member desires.
§ Mr. NicholsonI asked the question because I think it is the rule that nothing that takes place in the Select Committee can be discussed until the Committee have reported to the House.
§ Mr. SpeakerThe Minister can say that he is awaiting the Report, but we cannot discuss anything which took place in the Select Committee before the Committee has reported to the House.
§ Mr. Noel-BakerMay I point out, Sir, that I do not even know what is in the Report?
§ Mr. NicholsonI think it is an important point. May I ask whether, in the case of open-cast coal, they are industrial workers?
§ Mr. Noel-BakerYes, Sir, most of them are.