asked the Lord President of the Council how long the post of secretary to the Industrial Health Research Board has been vacant; and what steps are being taken to fill it.

The Board is part of the organisation of the Medical Research Council, and the secretarial duties are performed by members of the Council's headquarters staff, one of whom has been giving whole time to the work since the Board's previous secretary left at the end of September, 1946. The detailed work of the Board has recently been divided among four committees dealing with special branches of occupational health, and each of these has its own scientific secretary.

Can the right hon. Gentleman answer the last part of my Question, asking whether a new secretary will be appointed for the Board as a whole?

I do not think that is necessary at the moment. The arrangement is working well. We are trying this arrangement of the four sub-committees, which are being taken care of by secretaries. I would rather that went on for a bit before I made up my mind about the point raised by the hon. Member.