§ 48. Mr. JOHNSTONasked the Prime Minister whether the Minister of Health is still a director of Hoskins and Sons, Limited, Trinity Street, Birmingham; and, if not, when the Minister of Health resigned his directorship?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative, the second part does not therefore arise. I may say that the company in question is a private family concern, and therefore comes within the class which by the general practice of the last twenty years has been excluded from the rule that Ministers should resign directorships on entering office. The practice was first laid down by Sir H. Campbell-Bannerman in answer to a question on 20th March, 1906, in the following words:
The condition which was laid down on the formation of the Government was that all directorships held by Ministers must he resigned except in the case of honorary directorships, directorships in connection with philanthropic undertakings, and directorships in private companies.This was reaffirmed on the 28th March, 1917, by Minute of the War Cabinet, and has been the practice of successive Governments since 1906
§ Mr. JOHNSTONMay I ask the Prime Minister whether his opinion in this matter has not changed, in view of 2259 the fact that this particular company has enjoyed and is enjoying contractual relationship with the Government?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI have no knowledge of the transactions of that particular company, but my right hon. Friend will make a statement at the usual time by permission of Mr. Speaker and the House.