§ 38. Mr. BRIANTasked the Minister of Food whether he is aware that James Corbett, of 77, Waverley Road, Redland, Bristol, who is employed by the Food Ministry as an enforcement officer at a salary of £250 per annum, describes himself in the Press as Coalition publicity agent, and that he is in the employment of the Coalition Liberal whip's office, presumably at a salary; if so, is he satisfied that Corbett's food office duties are not interfered with by his Coalition publicity duties; and does he knowingly employ a subsidised political party agent for food control duties whilst some thousands of ex-officers are unemployed?
§ The MINISTER of FOOD (Mr. McCurdy)I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him on this subject on the 26th October. In view of the emergency created by the recent coal strike it was considered advisable to retain temporarily the services of experienced officers, including those of Mr. Corbett. He has now received notice of the termination of his appointment under 998 the Ministry of Food. With regard to the last part of the question, I may point out that Mr. Corbett is himself an ex-service man.
§ Mr. BRIANTDo I understand the right hon. Gentleman not to dispute the details set out in the question, namely, that while Mr. Corbett was employed by the Ministry of Food he was also employed as a Coalition publicity agent?
§ Mr. McCURDYSo far as my information goes the publicity work which was done by Mr. Corbett was done by him in his spare time. The determination to terminate the appointment of Mr. Corbett as a servant of the Ministry of Food was taken with regard to general considerations in connection with a general reduction of staff rather than with reference to the use he was making of his spare time.
§ Mr. HOGGEIf that is so, the Ministry of Food is now getting rid of an ex-service man who has nothing else to do?
§ Mr. McCURDYNo, Sir. I may say that it is quite impossible for me, as Minister of Food, to comply with the continuous demands for reduction of staff and for the effecting of economies—which economies are being continuously and progressively effected—without parting with the services of a number of ex-service men and ex-service women.
§ Mr. McCURDYNo, Sir; but the hon. Gentleman may understand that, in the difficult, and often painful, task of making these reductions and dispensing with the services of those who have given some years of work to the Ministry, preference and consideration are given to ex-service men.