HC Deb 22 July 1968 vol 769 c31
42. Mr. Onslow

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity if she will refer to the National Board for Prices and Incomes the increase of approximately 8 per cent. over the past 12 months in the average weekly cost of temporary secretarial staff employed by the Board.

The Under-Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity (Mr. Harold Walker)

The National Board for Prices and Incomes obtains temporary secretarial staff from employment agencies; and the question of charges made by such agencies, and the salaries paid by them to the staff they provide, has already been referred to the Board.

Mr. Onslow

While the Board is meditating on the points involved, would the hon. Gentleman ask it to tell him, and, so, the House, whether there has been a corresponding increase in the productivity of the staff?

Mr. Walker

I advise the hon. Gentleman to await the Board's Report, when no doubt it will make a relevant comment.

Mr. Barnett

How much of the Department's time has been wasted by the typically childish Question by the hon. Member for Woking (Mr. Onslow).