§ 34. Mr. F. Willeyasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he has taken to create an inspectorate to enforce the provisions of the Agriculture (Safety, Health and Welfare Provisions) Act.
§ Mr. NugentMy right hon. Friend has invited, and has received, from within the Department, applications for the posts of one chief and two deputy chief inspectors under the Agriculture (Safety, Health and Welfare Provisions) Act, and it is hoped to fill those three posts very soon. Arrangements are being made to fill other posts, partly by recruitment and partly by training inspectors who are at present employed under the Agriculture (Poisonous Substances) Act and the Agricultural Wages Act.
§ Mr. WilleyWhilst congratulating the Minister on his early start, may I ask the Parliamentary Secretary to assure the House that this establishment will not suffer under any guise of economy? Secondly, can he tell the House whether the establishment will contain people suitably qualified in chemistry, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, etc.?
§ Mr. NugentThis establishment certainly will not be curtailed in any way in the interests of special economy, only just reasonable economy. We are proceeding forthwith to what we think is a sound administration, and we think that the inspectors will be suitably trained to cover the range of work which they have to undertake.
§ Mr. WilleyIs the Parliamentary Secretary aware that "reasonable economy" does not ring very well?
§ 35. Mr. F. Willeyasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what qualifications will be required for the appointment of chief inspector and inspectors responsible for enforcing the provisions of the Agriculture (Safety, Health and Welfare Provisions) Act.
§ Mr. NugentThe chief inspector must be technically qualified and experienced in agricultural engineering. He and the other inspectors should be good all-round men, with a wide knowledge of agricultural operations and risks.
§ Mr. WilleyWhilst appreciating the need for an all-rounder, may I ask whether the Parliamentary Secretary appreciates also the need to get someone suitably qualified, and that a person holding this position ought to be comparable with a person holding a similar position in the Factory Inspectorate, where qualifications are required? Will he look at this matter again?
§ Mr. NugentI think we have fully in mind the qualifications needed for this man, and we do intend to engage somebody fully comparable with the senior officers in the Factory Inspectorate.