HC Deb 08 May 1893 vol 12 cc326-8
MR. FISHER (Fulham)

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether it is now the established practice of the Colonial Office to forbid the Chiefs of Departments and other highly-placed officials from seeking election as Directors of retail trading companies in which their subordinates, whose promotion depends upon their recommendation, are shareholders; and, whether, in the interest of the Public Service, he is prepared to issue a Treasury Minute, whereby in future no high official in any branch of the Civil Service shall act as a Director of such a retail trading company?

THE SECRETARY TO THE TREASURY (Sir J. T. HIBBERT,) Oldham

The whole question of Directorships held by Civil servants was carefully considered by the late Government upon the Second Report of the Royal Commission on Civil Establishments, with the result that the following Rule was laid down by Order in Council, namely:— No officer shall be allowed to accept any part in the management of any society or any trading, commercial, or financial company of whatever description which would require the attendance of such officer at any time between the hours of 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. I agree with this Rule, which is based on the principle that Government does not interfere with a Civil servant's employment of his time outside his official duties. The Rule in force at the Colonial Office, which is quoted by the Royal Commission in their Second Report, is within the limits of the Order in Council, and is, therefore, within the absolute discretion of the Secretary of State, or any head of a Department.

MR. HANBURY

The right hon. Gentleman speaks of Civil servants engaged in the management of companies. Does the Rule exclude them from acting as auditors?

SIR J. T. HIBBERT

It excludes them from acting in any capacity between the hours of 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.

MR. HARTLEY (Islington, N.)

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he thinks it is a desirable state of things that head clerks in a Department should be dependent upon the votes of their subordinates for the retention of their positions as Directors of trading companies?

MR. FISHER

And would it conduce to the discipline of a Department that the heads of it should canvass their subordinates for Directorships in a Civil Service Company? That is the whole gist of my question, and the right hon. Gentleman has evaded it.

SIR J. T. HIBBERT

I deny that I tried to evade it. I answered it fully. I quite agree that no person in such a position ought to be allowed to canvass his subordinates for such appointments, and that if in any Department such proceedings took place they ought to be stopped.