78. Miss Wardasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he is aware that district auditors are approving local authority expenditure on salaries which differentiates between recipients according to whether they are or are not members of a trade union; and if he will issue instructions that such differentiation should form the subject of a surcharge.
§ Mr. MarplesDistrict auditors have no power to disallow expenditure on salaries except in so far as it is contrary to law. The decision whether or not to make a surcharge is one for the district auditor, and my right hon. Friend has no legal power to issue instructions such as my hon. Friend suggests.