§ 20. Mr. RAPERasked the Secretary of State for Air why the applications of two ex-service clerks, Messrs. Colley and Cooper, under Clauses 37–39 of the Lytton Report, have not been forwarded to the Civil Service Commissioners; whether the chiefs of both these men have stated emphatically that they consider the clerks specially competent; whether both these chiefs have also written to the Committee which investigated these appeals and protested that their evidence was absolutely misrepresented; and what action he proposes to take on the matter?
The SECRETARY of STATE for AIR (Captain Guest)I have devoted a good deal of personal attention to the cases of these two clerks, and am perfectly satisfied that the Committee referred to in the question conducted the proceedings with complete impartiality and carefulness. It is the fact, however, that the witnesses who gave evidence before the Committee as to competence, have subsequently represented that their views were misunderstood, and, although I could not re-open the question of recommendations as a whole, I have felt justified in having 2075 these two names forwarded to the Civil Service Commission for consideration with the others already forwarded.
§ Mr. RAPERWhile thanking the hon. and gallant Gentleman for his promise to have these two cases reconsidered, is it not a fact that his reply shows that there has been a very serious misrepresentation of evidence and is he willing to have the whole matter reconsidered?