§ Mr. Garry Allighanasked the Minister of Fuel and Power the number of local fuel overseers who are officials of their local authority and draw honorariums from his Department, the actual work being carried out by deputies; and the 268W number of local fuel overseers who are not officials of local councils, draw salaries and are fully responsible for the work entailed in that position.
§ Mr. ShinwellThree hundred and fifty local fuel overseers are employed full time on fuel administration and are not in receipt of a full time salary out of local authority funds in respect of their services in another local authority capacity. Five hundred and eighty local fuel overseers are employed part time on fuel administration and are not in receipt of a full time salary for other local authority work. Six hundred local fuel overseers are in receipt of a full time salary out of local authority funds in respect of their services in another local authority capacity, but receive honoraria for acting as local fuel overseers. The above figures are approximate and include about 100 local fuel overseers who give their services voluntarily.
It should be pointed out that all local fuel overseers are officers of the local authorities, on whom the responsibility for making the appointments and for providing staff and accommodation is placed by the Coal Distribution Order, 1943. The cost of this service is however reimbursed by the Ministry and the local fuel overseers work under the direct instructions of the Minister.