55. Mr. FOOTasked the President of the Board of Education whether his attention has been called to the resolution of the Denbighshire Education Committee granting permission to the director of education for the county to promote his parliamentary candidature for the West Denbigh Division, and allowing him to retain his appointment for 12 months from the date on which he may take up his parliamentary duties; and whether these arrangements have the approval of the Board of Education?
§ Mr. FISHERMy attention has been called to a statement in the Press, from which it appears that the permission is conditional upon the provision by the director of a full-time substitute to be 2370 approved by the Education Committee. In the circumstances, there does not at present appear to be any ground for action on my part; but the Board would, of course, not recognise, for the calculation of grant, expenditure on the salary of an official the duties of whose office are not performed.
Mr. FOOTIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that there was an undertaking also that, in the event of his being returned, there would be no active work on his part in relation to education at all—that he would retire definitely from the active work of education in that county?
§ Mr. FISHERI am not aware of that.
§ Mr. HOGGEWould this establish a precedent for all permanent officials in Government offices who take up political candidatures and appoint full-time substitutes while they are doing so?
§ Colonel WEDGWOODWhy should it not be? Would it not be rather a good precedent?