§ Mr. BAKERasked the Minister of Health whether he has approved the consolidated scale of salaries recently adopted by the Bristol City Council for the health visitors in their service; whether he is aware that this scale is lower than the scale of salaries, plus bonus, previously in force, and that under the new scale health visitors with nine years' service will receive a maximum salary of £160 per annum, health visitors with six years' service £150 per annum, and health visitors with service varying from four-and-a-half years to a few months £140 894W per annum; and whether, in view of the fact that half of these salaries are laid by the Ministry of Health, he is prepared to take any action to secure a more satisfactory rate of remuneration in these cases?
§ Mr. WHEATLEYThe answer to the first part of the question is "No," and to the second part "Yes," but I understand that an additional allowance is made for uniform. I do not regard the present salaries as adequate, but I am informed by the city council that these salaries are probably of a temporary nature, and that the council have in preparation a grading scheme designed to place the salaries of their officers, including the health visitors, on a satisfactory basis.