asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health if he will state (1) the number of officials and employees, permanent and temporary, employed by local authorities in the years 1931, 1932, 1939, and 1941, and the amounts paid by local authorities in salaries, wages, allowances and expenses in the financial years 1931, 1932, 1939, and 1941, respectively.
Written Answers. - Employees of Local Authorities.
Particulars of officials and employees of local bodies, permanent and temporary, are not kept in my Department. Returns of permanent staffs are obtained from local bodies from time to time. The compilation of statistics in the form required by the Deputy would involve a detailed examination of records of local bodies, and the time and expense which would be involved would not be justified. There is a summary of expenditure on salaries, wages, etc., by local authorities contained in the annual returns of local taxation which may be of service to the Deputy. The returns for the three years first mentioned have been published. The returns for the year 1941 will not be ready for publication for a very considerable time.