Written Answers To Questions
Friday, 24th June, 1955
Mauritius Institute (Salaries)
asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is aware of the inferior salaries paid to the librarian and curator at Mauritius Institute, compared with officials with similar qualifications in other public departments of the Colony; and whether he will take steps to remedy this situation.
The salaries paid to the librarian and curator of the Mauritius Institute are not inferior to those received by officials with generally comparable qualifications in other public departments of Mauritius. The salary scale of these two posts received detailed examination by the Salaries Commissioner in 1952, when particular attention was paid to the relationship between salary scales and qualifications. As the qualifications required at present for these posts do not rank as equivalent to a university degree, they do not qualify their holders for the professional scale as recommended by the Salaries Commissioner.
Ministry Of Health
X-Ray Dental Films
asked the Minister of Health if he is aware of the shortage of film for dental X-rays; what is the reason; and what he proposes to do to alleviate this shortage.
I have been asked to reply.I am aware that the production of certain types of British X-ray dental film has not been able to keep pace with the constantly expanding demand. Further plant is under construction to step up the output and in the meantime no difficulties are placed in the way of importing foreign dental X-ray film from any source.
Pensions And National Insurance
Clergymen (Contributions)
asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if he will look into the question of the amount of National Insurance contribution paid by the clergy, who are classified as self-employed, and so pay a larger contribution, whereas, in fact, they are employed by the Church Commissioners and their parish church council.
The only persons who can be treated as employed persons for the purposes of the National Insurance Acts are persons employed under a contract of service and persons deemed to be employed persons by virtue of Regulations. Following High Court decisions, clergymen have always been held not to be employed under a contract of service; and the National Insurance Advisory Committee, in reporting on the relevant Regulations, have expressed the view that they should not be treated as if they were so employed.
Earnings Rule (Old-Age Pensioners)
asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance whether he will reconsider the earnings rule for old-age pensioners with a view to allowing pensioners to earn some amount more than £2 without deduction being made from their pension.
I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to the hon. Member for Edinburgh, West (Sir I. Clark Hutchinson) on 20th June.
Scotland
Chairmen Of Development Corporations (Political Activities)
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland his regulations with regard to the participation of the chairmen of development corporations in political activities during a General Election or at other times.
The chairmen and members of development corporations are free to take part in political activity during a General Election and at other times, provided that they are conscious of their general public responsibility and exercise proper discretion, particularly in regard to the work of the corporation of which they are members.
Coastal Erosion, Arbroath
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will send a technical officer of his Department, as a matter of urgency, to investigate the erosion on the seaward side of Seagate, Arbroath, and advise the Arbroath Town Council as to the best method of dealing with it and as to the grants available.
Yes. It is hoped that one of my technical officers will visit Arbroath for this purpose next week.