§ Sir R. Glynasked the Prime Minister whether he will consider the method of the appointment, rates of pay, opportunities for promotion., conditions of pension, etc., of local government officers; whether a large number of officials now engaged on administrative work throughout the country on behalf of different Ministries will be given an opportunity for permanent employment; and in view of the increasing responsibilities put on local authorities by Parliament, immediate steps will be taken to appoint a commission, Royal or otherwise, to review the machinery by which these administrative duties have to be carried out.
§ Mr. AttleeThe matters referred to in the first part of the Question were considered by the Hadow Committee which reported in 1934. The war has held up action on their recommendations, but meanwhile there has been formed a National Joint Council consisting of representatives of organisations of local authorities and of Local Government employees, whose constitution provides, amongst other things, for a review of the important matters to which my hon. and gallant Friend refers, and who could with advantage consider the specific point raised in the second 1953W part of the Question. As regards the last part of the Question I would refer to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 22nd September, 1943, to my hon. Friends the hon. and gallant Member for New Forest and Christchurch (Major Mills) and for Evesham (Mr. De la Bère) on the subject of a Royal Commission, and on 3rd August last by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health to my hon. and learned Friend the Member for Ilford (Mr. Hutchinson) on the subject of Local Government Reform.