§ MR. HANBURY (Preston)asked the Secretary of State for War, Whether 1148 any, and what, negotiations have recently been drawn up with reference to the practice of officials holding shares, or being otherwise interested, in firms or Companies which contract with the Government; and, whether steps have been, or will be, taken to prevent officers or officials of high position connected with the Ordnance and other Departments from joining such firms or Companies upon their retirement from the service of the Department with which those firms have undertaken contracts?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. E. STANHOPE) (Lincolnshire, Horncastle)A regulation has lately been promulgated declaring that any official of the War Department who purchases or holds shares in a firm or Company which contracts with the Department thereby renders himself disqualified for the retention of his appointment. As regards retired officials, I have no control over their proceedings, and no power to interfere with them in any employment they may undertake.
§ MR. HANBURYinquired, whether officials could not be made to undertake, on entering the service of the Government, not at any future time to connect themselves with firms which contracted with the Government?
§ MR. E. STANHOPEI think it would be unfair that a man who has acquired special knowledge should be debarred from making use of it on his leaving the Service.