HC Deb 24 June 1947 vol 439 cc192-3
30. Mr. York

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the application for release of an officer of Claims Commission for agricultural work, of whose name he has been informed, was recommended by the agricultural authorities.

Mr. Bellenger

An application for this officer's release in Class B for employment as an estate agent was supported by the Ministry of Agriculture. The officer, who had been released with his age and service group in Class A, had been recalled from the unemployed list on 26th June, 1946, at his own request, and had undertaken to defer release until general demobilisation. His case was fully considered, but in view of the serious shortage of qualified officers serving with the Claims Commission it was not found possible to agree to cancellation of his undertaking

Mr. York

Does not the Secretary of State think that at this time of all times, when there is an imminent prospect of food shortage, an experienced agricultural manager like this would be better employed in helping agricultural production than in settling a very small number of claims?

Mr. Bellenger

Generally speaking, I am in sympathy with helping agriculture as far as I can. But this officer himself made a request to come back in June last year and gave an undertaking. I am not in a position to release him from that undertaking at the moment.

Mr. York

In view of the fact that the Minister seems to be under a misapprehension about his undertaking to go back —it was the other way round, he was asked to go back—will the right hon. Gentleman look into the case again?

Mr. Bellenger

I will certainly look into it again.