§ Mr. KINGasked whether there is any precedent for the secretary of the Defence Committee of the Cabinet becoming, on retiring from the Civil Service, a director of a company making munitions of war for foreign countries; and whether, to prevent the recurrence of this and similar cases, he will attach to the grant of Civil Service pensions the condition that the holders shall only undertake business engagements of this character after obtaining the permission of the Treasury?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThere are only two ex-secretaries of the Imperial Defence Committee, one of whom holds an appoint- 1880 ment under the Government of India. There is, therefore, no precedent. As regards the latter part of the question, I must refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave on Monday to the hon. Member for North Salford.