25. Captain CROOKSHANKasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, whether he proposes to reduce the staff of his Department, in View of the fact that it was thought possible for one of his senior officials to accept an outside contract while employed on full-time work in his Department?
§ Captain HACKING(for The FIRST COMMISSIONER of WORKS): It has been decided to abolish the post of Director of Works on the retirement of Sir F. Baines from the service on or about the 1st September next.
§ 26. Mr. R. MORRISONasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, whether the conditions under which Sir Frank Baines was employed in the Government service permitted him to enter into a contract for service with a private company without the consent of the First Commissioner?
§ Captain HACKINGThe conditions under which architects and other professional officers in the Department are allowed to accept commissions in their professional capacity from individual persons or private firms were given in detail in my reply to the hon. Member's question on the 26th May. The whole question for the future is under consideration.
§ 40. Mr. R. MORRISONasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the amount of the pension to be paid to Sir Frank Baines upon his retirement from the Government service on 1st September?
§ The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the TREASURY (Mr. Ronald McNeill)I 396 am not yet in a position to give this information, as the Treasury are still awaiting the detailed particulars necessary for the determination of the amount to be awarded under the provisions of Section 7 of the Superannuation Act, 1859.
§ Mr. HARDIECan any civil servant, while in the employ of the Government, undertake any work under any form of contract?
§ Mr. McNEILLI could not answer that question in such general terms without notice.
§ Mr. MORRISONIn view of the fact that this civil servant has been retired compulsorily because he was unable to get out of a contract that he had made with a private company, can the right hon. Gentleman say whether he is entitled to the same rate of superannuation as he would have received if he had served his term in the ordinary way?
§ Mr. McNEILLHis superannuation will be on a different basis altogether, and, as I have already told the hon. Member, I cannot yet state what the amount will be.
§ Mr. HARDIEIs it a fact that this civil servant, while in the employ of the Government, was taking contract work from private firms outside? Is that the case or is it not?
§ Sir H. BRITTAINis it not also a fact that he did a good day's work for the Department?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThat question about the particular case should be addressed to the Office of Works. A question was put on that matter two or three days ago.