16. Mr. Ted Fletcherasked the Minister of Labour what representations he has received from local authorities on their difficulties in obtaining staff to implement the purposes of the Offices, Shops and Railways Premises Act, 1963.
§ Mr. ThorntonOne authority wrote to this Department last April protesting, on grounds of staff shortage, about the burden imposed by the Act. In addition a number of local authorities have referred to staffing difficulties when forwarding to us the statistics prescribed for inclusion in their annual reports for 1964. I know from our central advisory inspectorate, which is in touch with local authorities throughout the country, that many of them have staffing difficulties, but that nevertheless they are generally making a start on the enforcement of the Act.
17. Mr. Ted Fletcherasked the Minister of Labour how many additional staff have been appointed by local auhorities to undertake the inspection of offices, shops, warehouses and catering establishments since the Offices, Shops and Railway Premises Act 1963 became law.
§ Mr. ThorntonNo figures are available. However, I understand from our central advisory inspectorate that additional appointments have been made or authorised by a number of authorities in different parts of the country.