HC Deb 28 July 1949 vol 467 cc171-2W
Sir W. Smithers

87, 88 and 89. asked the Minister of National Insurance (1) whether the editor and two assistants of the journal of the staff of tilt Ministry of National Insurance entitled "The Window" are paid from public funds; whether they are employed full time on the magazine; how many other public servants are employed on the editorial staff, and whether engaged in this way for full or part time; what is the amount of salary paid respectively to all so employed; and under what authority is the taxpayers' money being used for this purpose;

(2) how many persons, whilst employed at public expense, are engaged, and to what extent, in the publication and circulation of "The Window"; where the advisory committee holds its regular monthly meetings; if, as some of its members live as far apart as Cardiff, Plymouth and London, the travelling to and from these regular meetings is done in public time and at public expense; and what is the liability to the taxpayer for such travelling and subsistence;

(3) under what authority supplies of paper for the publication of "The Window" were allocated, at a time when paper was in short supply for commercial purposes.

Mr. Steele

The editor and two assistants are the only persons engaged full-time on "The Window." This departmental magazine was established following the Assheton Report on Staff Training (presented to this House in 1944). The annual salary of the editor is £725. The salaries of the assistants are £424 and £380. Certain ancillary work is done, either as part-time duty or outside official hours, by other members of the staff but it is impracticable to calculate the relatively small cost involved. The advisory Committee includes members living in the provinces. It meets only occasionally. The cost of subsistence and travelling has averaged under £8 per meeting. Expenses are covered by the general provisions for staff in the departmental estimates. A charge is made for the magazine and receipts are credited against the cost of production. Supplies of paper are obtained from His Majesty's Stationery Office with Treasury authority.