§ 55. Mr. Shinwellasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether, in view of the fact that Sir George Stuart Robertson, the late Industrial Commissioner, has resigned his position and has been granted a pension of £875 per annum, he will state why Sir George Robertson had to obtain the consent of the Government before accepting the position of director of the Prudential Assurance Company?
§ Lieut.-Colonel ColvilleI am sending to the hon. Member a copy of the Memorandum on the subject of the acceptance of business appointments by officers of the Crown Services (Command Paper 5517) issued in July last which sets out the position in this matter.
§ Mr. ShinwellIs the right hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that the Prudential Assurance Company will be in a privileged position; that they will be able to obtain inside information and thus have an advantage over any other society or company? Will he give an assurance that the new Industrial Commissioner will not be permitted to accept an appointment of this or any other kind at any time, so as to ensure that he will not divulge information at his disposal?
§ Lieut.-Colonel ColvilleIf the hon. Member will read the Command Paper to which I have referred, he will see that certain principles are laid down governing the acceptance of offices of this nature, and I am quite satisfied that those principles were acted upon in this case, and that the appointment was a proper one.
§ Mr. ShinwellDoes the right hon. and gallant Gentleman understand that in the seconding of this Gentleman from the Industrial Commissioner's post to the Prudential Assurance Company—because he has obtained the consent of the Government to accept a directorship—the Prudential Assurance Company is placed in a privileged position?
§ Lieut.-Colonel ColvilleThe hon. Member does not know the facts of the case. This officer was not seconded. He retired and accepted an appointment after a proper examination in terms of the memorandum to which I have referred had been made.
§ Mr. T. WilliamsDoes not the right hon. and gallant Gentleman deprecate persons leaving the State service and accepting a position of this kind?
§ Lieut.-Colonel ColvilleI think both hon. Members should read the Memorandum to which I have referred, and which goes very fully into this matter. I will send the hon. Member for Don Valley (Mr. T. Williams) a copy of it, too.
§ Mr. GrenfellWill the right hon. and gallant Gentleman consider publishing, in addition to the Memorandum, a statement giving the number of people who obtained such appointments in the last 10 or 12 years, and will he consider the advisability of informing civil servants that their duty is to the Government, and that they are to remain at their national 206 posts and not take advantage of anything they may learn in the course of their service to the nation?
§ Mr. GallacherWould the Minister not consider bringing in the necessary legislation to suspend the operation of pensions for these civil servants?