asked the Minister for Health whether he is aware that, following discussions last year between his Department and the union representing health inspectors employed by local authorities, a national scale of salaries from £360 to £590 a year was agreed to by both sides, that in recent advertisements appearing in the public press issued by the Local Appointments Commission in respect of positions as health inspectors a salary much lower than the agreed scale has been offered and that county managers have refused to allow salaries for health inspectors in accordance with the agreed scale on the ground that the Order of the Department on the matter is not clear; and, if so, if he will inform the Local Appointments Commission and the county managers of the agreement come to between his Department and the representatives of the health inspectors.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Health Inspectors' Salaries.
The Deputy is correct in stating that following discussions last year between my Department and representatives of health inspectors, agreement was reached on a revised uniform scale of remuneration for health inspectors to be recommended to health authorities for adoption. On the 12th July, 1951, a circular containing particulars of the new scale together with a recommendation for its adoption with effect from 1st April, 1951, was issued to health authorities by my Department. It is, of course, a matter for the health authorities to decide whether they will put my recommendation into effect. The recommendation made was quite clear and unequivocal, and in the circumstances I do not think it necessary to repeat it. So far as the Local Appointments Commissioners are concerned, their responsibility is to arrange for the filling of posts of health inspector referred to them by the local authorities concerned. They have no function in relation to the determination of the salaries.
Has the Minister any idea of how many local authorities have put the recommendation into effect and how many have not?
About seven have adopted it already.
A small percentage.