§ Mr. G. EDWARDSasked the Minister of Health whether he approved the appointment of Mr. C. Gayfer as district sanitary inspector to the Borough of Lowestoft on 14th December, 1923, at a salary of £145 per annum, rising to £165 by annual increments of 26; whether he is aware that this salary is without bonus; and whether, in view of its inadequacy, he can state what action he proposes to take with the authority in question?
Mr. GREENWOODThe local authority informed my right hon. Friend's predecessor that as the officer in question was only recently qualified, and as his work would be supervised by a chief sanitary inspector, who would himself discharge the more important duties, they considered the proposed salary adequate. In the circumstances it was not considered that object-ion to the proposal could be maintained. The question of an increase of salary is one for the local authority in the first instance, but my right hon. Friend would he prepared to give sympathetic consideration to any reasonable increase that may be submitted to him by the town council.
§ Mr. R. RICHARDSONasked the Minister of Health why, seeing that the scales of salaries for Local Government officers agreed upon by a provincial Whitley Council representing employers and employés are regarded as trade union rates of pay, he is encouraging Metropolitan borough councils to pay the sanitary inspectors in their employ a lower salary than that which the Metropolitan Provincial Whitley Council has approved?
Mr. GREENWOODMy right hon. Friend has been in communication with the London District (Whitley) Council and has decided not to withhold approval of salaries in accordance with the scale suggested by that body where proposed by the authorities concerned.