81. Brigadier Clarkeasked the Minister of Fuel and Power how many fuel overseers are now employed by his Department in the British Isles; and what is their annual cost to the country.
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§ Mr. P. Noel-BakerThe local fuel overseers and their staffs are employed by local authorities, to whom my Department are indebted for their help in maintaining this valuable service. The present number of overseers is 1,466 and this number is being progressively reduced. Nearly two-thirds of the overseers spend a part of their time on their fuel duties.
The Government repay to the local authorities expenses reasonably incurred in maintaining the service. The cost on my Department's Vote this year is estimated at £1,125,000. £115,000 will be met on the Votes of other Departments for the provision of accommodation, stationery and so forth. These sums include payments in respect of some expenditure incurred last year; the cost to the country for this year will be considerably less.