asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state the number of inspectors of his Department whose services were discontinued or who were reverted to their previous posts since the 1st July last, and the reasons for the termination of their services or reversion.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Employment of Inspectors.
When the Prices and Charges (Standstill) Order, 1951, was made, my predecessor decided to recruit 100 additional temporary inspectors to assist in its enforcement. That number was subsequently reduced by him to 50 as an economy measure.
The Prices and Charges (Standstill) Order provided for the control of prices of 98 commodities or groups of commodities. By March, 1951, however, 62 commodities or groups of commodities had been decontrolled by revocation Orders and a further 12 commodities had been similarly decontrolled by June.
When I investigated the machinery for the enforcement of price control Orders, I decided that 25 temporary inspectors, in addition to the ordinary staff of the Department, would be adequate, with public co-operation, to secure effective enforcement. This number of temporary inspectors is still employed and will be added to from time to time if necessary.
Would the Minister say what is the total number of inspectors employed in the supervision of price control Orders?
That is a separate question.
Does the Minister consider the reduction of the staff from 50 to 25 is warranted if we are to ensure effective price control?
I did not see much point in having a staff of inspectors who were under orders from Ministers not to enforce the official prices.
Is it a fact——
Do not tell me you bought those before the election.
——that the Minister has reduced the inspectorate staff to an all-time low level clearly indicating the view he expressed outside that he has no intention whatever of effectively enforcing price control and that the whole thing is a fraud and a sham on the people?
There are 25 more inspectors now than there were this time last year.
But not recruited by you.