§ 63. Mr. Rileyasked the Home Secretary whether he has now made inquiries into the summary dismissal of Charles Fowler, of Liversedge, Spen Valley, from his post of air warden on the ground that he had written a letter to the local newspaper criticising the air-raid precautions administration; and whether he can make any statement on the matter?
§ Sir J. AndersonThe dismissal of a member of the public air-raid precautions services is a matter for the local authority concerned, in which I have no jurisdiction to intervene. I have, however, made inquiries into this particular case and am satisfied that the person concerned was dismissed for reasons other than those which have been suggested to the hon. Member. I have already communicated the result of my inquiries to the hon. Member.
§ Mr. RileyIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that in the official note of dismissal there is a paragraph intimating that dismissed persons might at a future date apply for reinstatement, and that this paragraph was erased from this particular note, and why was it erased?
§ Sir J. AndersonIt was, perhaps, very unfortunate that a form was used which had been prepared for general issue and that paragraph was struck out. The reason was that it was considered inappropriate, in view of the fact that that dismissal and that of a number of others were the result of a special review, as the House knows, with the object of bringing the paid staff down to the minimum absolutely necessary.