§ 16. Mr. Manuelasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what reply he has sent to the resolution which he received from the Sanitary Inspectors' Association of Scotland, dated 3rd July, 1964, regarding the shortage of sanitary inspectors in Scotland.
§ Mr. NobleI would refer the hon. Member to the Answer I gave on 13th July to the hon. Member for Coatbridge and Airdrie (Mr. Dempsey).
§ Mr. ManuelIs the Secretary of State aware that the present shortage of sanitary inspectors in Scotland constitutes a threat to the country's health? Is he not prepared to initiate steps so that sanitary inspectors will be more easily recruited to local authority services because of better conditions and higher salary scales?
§ Mr. NobleI am aware of the fact, which was brought out for the first time in a letter I received only a few weeks ago, that there is a considerable drift of sanitary inspectors to the south of England. The hon. Gentleman probably knows that from 1957 to 1959 Scottish local authorities could obtain, through the National Joint Industrial Councils for Local Authority Services (Scotland), authority to pay up to £60, and later £40, above the scales. I have no doubt that, if local authorities think that something of this sort is needed again, they will apply to the National Joint Industrial Council for help in this way, because this rests with them.