§ 17. Mr. Allasonasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many unfilled vacancies for planners there are in his Department; and what proportion of the total this represents.
§ Mr. MacColl28 or 16 per cent. of the complement, Sir.
313 While it is difficult to establish how many candidates will accept positions, if all those declared successful in recent recruitment competitions do accept, most of these vacancies will be filled.
§ Mr. AllasonHas the Minister made any estimate of the further increase that will be required to meet the proposals in the White Paper on planning? Where are these extra planners, both in the Ministry and outside, to come from?
§ Mr. MacCollMy right hon. Friend has made and is continuing to make estimates of what will be required under the new proposals, but at the moment the signs are that recruitment is improving.
§ Mr. WellbelovedIs the Minister aware that although there may be slight difficulty in obtaining planners in his Department, the G.L.C. has a sufficient number? Would he give an undertaking that when the Thames Mead public inquiry comes to be held there will be a reasonable space of time allowed from the last day for objections, because other authorities have net a surfeit of planners and need time to prepare their cases?
§ Mr. MacCollThat does not arise out of this question.