§ Mr. Wilmotasked the Minister of Health whether he is aware of the strong feeling among local authorities concerning the lack of authority to incur expenditure on the provision of transport for inspections within the borough; the inadequacy of the subsistence rate of 32s. 6d. for an absence overnight, which means that representatives, in carrying out their public duties, are often out of pocket; and what steps he is taking to remedy these grievances.
§ Mr. BevanI have had representations on both points. On the first point the Local Government Act, 1948, expressly provided that members of an urban authority should not be entitled to payments by way of travelling allowances for the performance of any approved duty within the area of the Authority, and I see no reason for an amendment of the Act. As regards the second point, I am satisfied that the rates of subsistence allowances are not inadequate.