§ 1. Dr. Barnett Strossasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will ensure that each national park employs one planning officer under the control of a joint board and responsible only to the board.
§ The Minister of Housing and Local Government (Mr. Harold Macmillan)I think that joint boards, like other local authorities, should decide their own staff requirements.
§ Dr. StrossDoes the Minister's reply mean that he moves away from the position that we understood existed before, namely, that it is most desirable and almost essential that the board should have their own planning staff and that there should not be any separation of functions between them? Has he noted what recently happened in Derbyshire, where the county council appointed an officer who, in part, still retains control on behalf of the Derbyshire County Council, as well as over the park?
§ Mr. MacmillanI know the purpose of the hon. Gentleman's question, but I think it is best to let the joint board work this out.