HC Deb 13 March 1928 vol 214 cc1719-20
46. Mr. WHITELEY

asked the Prime Minister whether, seeing that he has appointed as private secretary Mr. R. G. Vansittart, an assistant Under-Secretary of State in the Department of Foreign Affairs, he will say whether there is a precedent for an official of similar status being employed on the duties of private secretary; and whether any payment additional to the normal salary of his grade is being paid to the official acting as deputy to the assistant Under-Secretary of State?

Mr. CHURCHILL

The selection of a senior officer in the Civil Service to act as principal private secretary to the Prime Minister exactly conforms with the practice of appointing senior naval and military officers to act as naval and military secretaries respectively to the First Lord of the Admiralty and the Secretary of State for War. The officer selected to deputise in the Foreign Office for Mr. Vansittart will receive the additional pay appropriate to his acting rank.

Mr. MAXTON

Will the right hon. Gentleman say whether it was regarded as desirable by the Cabinet that Mr. Vansittart should he removed so speedily out of the somewhat difficult and very responsible post to which he had been so recently appointed?

Mr. CHURCHILL

I think it has always been usual for the House of Commons to leave the Executive free to dispose of its officers in whatever manner it thinks most conducive to the advantage of the public service.

Mr. MAXTON

Does the right hon. Gentleman realise that the particular office that Mr. Vansittart held in the Foreign Office has lately been a matter of very great public interest, as has also the transference of the Prime Minister's Parliamentary private secretary to the Conservative party's offices, and is it not in the public interest that some information should be given as to why all these moves have been made at this particular time?

Mr. CHURCHILL

I cannot think of any interest which is superior to that of the Prime Minister, who has unique responsibilities imposed upon him, having at his side the assistance that he requires in the conduct of affairs. As to the other point raised, that is not involved in the question, though I should be very glad to deal with it if it were.