§ Mr. GRETTONasked the Home Secretary if any addition will be necessary to the central staff of the Home Office in consequence of the Commissioners to be appointed under the Shops Bill; how many inspectors and sub-inspectors are to be appointed to carry out the provisions of the Bill; what will be the salaries paid to the various officials of different grades under the Bill; and if any estimate has been made of the total cost to be borne by the Treasury?
§ Mr. MASTERMANIt is probable that the additional work which will be entailed on the Home Office, if the Bill passes into law, may necessitate a small addition to the ordinary staff, but my right hon. Friend is not contemplating that the Commissioners themselves will be permanent officials. Competent persons would be appointed as under the present Act for particular inquiries, or it may be found advantageous at first to make one or two temporary appointments. It is not possible at the present stage to form an estimate of the probable charge, as my right hon. Friend cannot forecast what the extent of the demand for the services of the Commissioners will be. As regards inspection, the Bill provides for the inspectors being appointed and paid, as under the Act of 1904, by the local authorities, and no charge in respect of it will fall upon the Exchequer.