asked the Minister of Pensions whether the principal officers of areas employed by the Ministry are paid on a population basis; if so, what is the number of grades into which the areas are divided and the range of salary of each grade; and why a number of these officers are paid less than the minimum rate for their respective grades?

On the institution of areas in 1922 they were divided into three main groups on a population basis, the normal minimum salaries of the chief area officers in the groups being £650, £500 and £400 respectively. There were, however, some instances in which the relative importance of the work of the area office or other considerations did not justify the payment of this normal minimum, and the number of such instances has increased in consequence of the considerable decline in the volume of work. The need for review of the rates of salary and the principles on which they have been fixed has, consequently, arisen, and the matter has recently been referred to the Departmental Whitley Council for discussion.