§ Mr. Woodasked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what considerations led him to refuse to confirm the appointment, recently made by the urban district council of Ashby Woulds, of a surveyor and sanitary inspector.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterAppointments of this nature are not subject to my confirmation, but if a grant is to be made towards the salary under Section 17 (2) of the Ministry of Transport Act, 1919, the appointment, retention and dismissal of the surveyor is subject to my approval. 61W My general requirements before approving such an appointment are that the candidate selected shall hold a recognised qualification in highway engineering and have had substantial experience in the construction and maintenance of roads. Where the appointment is a dual one of surveyor and sanitary inspector and the responsibility for roads is small, I am sometimes prepared to waive the requirement of a professional qualification, but not that relating to experience. In the present instance, I could not take the view that the candidate selected had sufficient experience to justify me in making a grant towards his salary. This does not of course preclude the council from making the appointment.