§ MR. CHARLES ROBERTS (Lincoln)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to the fact that the name of Captain G. R. B. Drummond, of Horsham, appears on the published list of one of the brewery debenture holders' committees, formed to protect the interests of the holders of debentures secured upon breweries; and whether, seeing that this gentleman is 432 chief constable of West Sussex, and an official responsible for the administration of the licensing laws, he will say what action he proposes to take in view of his membership of a political organisation for the protection of the liquor trade.
§ MR. HERBERT SAMUELThe Secretary of State is informed by the chief constable in question that he has had for many years a small amount of capital invested in the debentures of a brewery not connected with the county of Sussex, and that a few months ago he accepted an invitation from the Chairman of the Law Debenture Corporation—an association engaged in the protection of the interests of brewery debenture holders—to allow his name to appear on a local committee. The chief constable states that in view of his position he takes no personal part in any political organisation or meetings. The Secretary of State certainly thinks Major Drummond would have been better advised if he had refused the invitation, but he has no authority to give him any instructions in the matter.
§ MR. LEIF JONES (Westmoreland, Appleby)Will the hon. Gentleman cause a copy of the Answer to be sent to this gentleman?
§ MR. HERBERT SAMUELYes, Sir.