§ 9. Mr. MYERSasked the President of the Board of Trade whether a Mr. Lee, now an official of the coal owners' organisation, was formerly in the service of the Mines Department of the Board of Trade; if so, what was his status and salary; and what were the pension prospects surrendered when he left the Board of Trade for the Coal Owners' Association?
§ The SECRETARY for MINES (Mr. Bridgeman)Mr. W. A. Lee, who is now the assistant secretary to the Mining Association of Great Britain, was formerly a permanent official of the Board 12 of Trade, and for a time acted as Secretary to the Coal Mines Department. In that capacity his salary was £1,000 a year, inclusive of war bonus. Had Mr. Lee remained in the Civil Service he would have been entitled, on his retirement at the age of 60, to a pension calculated in accordance with the provisions of the Superannuation Acts on his emoluments at the date of retirement.
Mr. J. JONESIs it going to be the general practice that civil servants are to be allowed to take jobs on under these conditions?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANThis is a free country.