34. Mrs. Slaterasked the Minister of Health what is being done to encourage more local authorities to train sanitary inspectors.
§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Health (Mr. J. K. Vaughan-Morgan)The advantages of paid pupillage have been commended to local authorities, and I am confident that the work of the new Public Health Inspectors Education Board will further encourage authorities to review local training arrangements.
Mrs. SlaterWhile thanking the Minister for that reply, could I ask him what further steps he is prepared to take with these local authorities, who, up to the present, have done nothing in the training of local sanitary inspectors? Other authorities, such as my own, train five or six sanitary inspectors on the average each year, and very often when they have finished their training other local authorities offer them a few pounds more and take them, although those authorities have done nothing to make sure that we get an ample supply of sanitary inspectors.
§ Mr. Vaughan-MorganWe have issued one circular. The hon. Lady raises rather an interesting point. If she has any evidence which she would like to put before me, I shall be grateful to have it and will look at it.
§ Mr. BlenkinsopCan the hon. Gentleman say that the position about the recruiting of public health inspectors is how improving?
§ Mr. Vaughan-MorganYes. I am glad to be able to tell the hon. Gentleman that 40 per cent, more recruits qualified last year than the year before.