§ Mr. Parkerasked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that the Ilford Borough Council pay salaries to health visitors which are much below the Whitley Council scale applicable in Metropolitan boroughs; that as a consequence they have recently had few applicants for such vacancies; that they refuse to receive deputations from organisations representing the staff; and whether he will take action to make the borough reconsider this question?
§ Miss HorsbrughI am aware that the salaries paid to health visitors by the Ilford Borough Council are below the scale referred to, but I must point out that Ilford is not a Metropolitan borough, and my available information is that the salaries are not lower than those paid by some other authorities in the neighbourhood of or not far distant from London. As regards the second part of the Question, I understand that difficulty has recently occurred in filling two appointments, but I cannot say whether this was due to the cause suggested in the Question.
As regards the third part of the Question, I have no information which supports this suggestion. As regards the last part of the Question, the salaries paid by local authorities to health visitors are not subject to my right hon. Friend's approval; and he has no power to require the council to alter the existing salary scale.