§ Mr. HAYES FISHERasked whether the Chancellor of the Exchequer had appointed Mr. Harper to represent the interests of the London ratepayers upon the Committee which he has constituted to deal with the question of the apportionment of public expenditure between the Imperial Exchequer and the local authorities; whether Mr. Harper was, until 21st April, an official of the London County Council; whether the London County Council refused to allow the services of Mr. Harper to be given for this purpose, but offered the services of their principal financial officer; whether Mr. Harper has resigned his position at the London County Council in order to oblige the Government; and whether the Government have offered Mr. Harper, or intend to offer Mr. Harper, a position of equal or greater value to that which he has resigned?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSEThe Chancellor of the Exchequer, in appointing the Committee to deal with questions of Imperial and local taxation, did not intend any of the persons nominated to be representative of any particular locality or interests. The Committee was appointed to advise the Government upon questions needing immediate solution, and in the opinion of my right hon. Friend the advice tendered by any member of the Committee would cease to be valuable the moment that such a member regarded himself as representative of any particular and outside interests. With regard to the appointment of Mr. Harper, I am informed that his resignation was unconditional, but my right hon. Friend will give no pledge which would prevent either himself or any subsequent Government which should desire to utilise that gentleman's services at any future date, or when any emergency arose, from doing so.
§ Mr. HAYES FISHERAre we to understand that Mr. Harper may be in a position dependent on the goodwill of the Government, and therefore unable to give an independent report or independent consideration?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSEI imagine Mr. Harper's eminence as a valuation officer, besides any means which he may have of his own, will very soon enable him to put himself in a position where he would not be dependent on any Government.
§ Mr. HAYES FISHERIf he is to be appointed to some position under the Government, will he not then become a nominee of the Government and not in any way representative of the interests of the London ratepayers who have a case against the Government.
§ Mr. HOBHOUSEIf that position arose I do not suppose he would be any more or less dependent on the Government than, say, the Permanent Secretary for Scotland or any of the other permanent officials on that body.
Mr. PEELHas any suggestion of any kind been made to Mr. Harper by the Government, or any Member of the Government, that there might be some post found for him in the future if he did leave the well-paid permanent post he enjoyed and also forfeited the advantages of pension?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSEThe hon. Member could not have listened to the answer I 1782 read to the House or he would have known that I said the resignation was unconditional.
§ Mr. CROOKSIs Mr. Harper to serve the Government independent of any party in the London County Council?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSEI sincerely hope so; or if he does not do so his advice will not be so valuable as it ought to be.
§ Mr. LANSBURYIs it not the fact that Mr. Harper is the one officer employed by the London County Council who has a complete knowledge of the local circumstances of every borough throughout the Metropolitan area?
§ Mr. HAYES FISHERHas not the Controller of the County Council much more knowledge than Mr. Harper?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSEIt is clearly quite impossible for me, never having been on the London County Council to speak as to the respective merits of these two gentlemen.
§ Mr. SPEAKERNotice should be given of any further question.