HC Deb 30 January 1940 vol 356 cc949-52
3. Mr. McEntee

asked the Minister of Economic Warfare what position in a West End store was held prior to the outbreak of war by the officer who is now head of the foreign trade statistics branch of his Department; what is his salary; what previous experience this officer had of foreign trade statistics; how many of his relations have been appointed to the Ministry; what salaries they are receiving; and what previous experience they had of foreign trade statistics?

Mr. Cross

The answer to the Question is: (i) Management director; (ii) £900 per annum; (iii) Ten years as manager of statistical and commercial research departments of industrial and commercial institutions, during which time he was largely concerned with foreign trade statistical questions; (iv) One, who receives a salary of £700 a year. This (dicer was selected before the war for service in the Ministry, and before the head of the section had himself been selected; (v) This officer was employed in peace-time as a professional industrial statistician, which involved continuous research into foreign trade statistical returns.

4. Mr. McEntee

asked the Minister of Economic Warfare whether he is aware that salaries amounting to £2,250 per annum are paid to five temporary officials, not including the chief, in the foreign trade statistics branch of his Department for duties of a character previously performed by established civil servants employed in the statistics branch of the Board of Trade who have now been transferred to the Ministry of Economic Warfare; that these permanent officers are continuing to advise the highly paid temporary officials in the performance of such duties as are allotted to them; if these temporary officials had any previous practical experience of foreign trade statistics prior to the outbreak of war; and will he consider effecting an economy in public expenditure by dispensing with these five officials and allowing the established civil servants to perform the duties in which they are experienced?

Mr. Cross

In answer to the first part of the hon. Member's Question, five temporary officers are each being paid at the rate of £450 a year to perform duties entirely distinct from those undertaken by the permanent officers seconded from the Board of Trade.

The answer to the second part of the Question is that none of the permanent officers in question is working under the five temporary officers referred to in the Question. In regard to the third part, the answer is in the affirmative. The temporary officers concerned possess high technical and academic qualifications in statistics and have made a considerable financial sacrifice in accepting employment by His Majesty's Government at the rate which they are now paid.

With regard to the fourth part of the Question, I am satisfied that none of the permanent officers referred to by the hon. Member have the knowledge and experience necessary to enable them to undertake the duties performed by the temporary officers concerned.

5. Mr. McEntee

asked the Minister of Economic Warfare, whether he is aware that five members of the foreign trade statistics branch of his Department were appointed on the recommendation of the temporary head of this section and that they include a married woman who receives a salary of £350 per annum, to whom an increase of pay of £210 has recently been given and who is engaged merely in assisting her husband, to whom an increase of pay of Li £100 has recently been given; that increases of pay involving a total annual cost of £1,070 have been given to five temporary officials appointed to the foreign trade statistics branch on the recommendation of the temporary head of that branch and that the duties of all five officers remain precisely the same as they were, before they were given promotions and increased salary; and whether he will inquire into the whole matter with a view to effecting some economy?

Mr. Cross

I would point out that the facts regarding these appointments are not altogether correctly stated in the Question. The married woman referred to worked for three months without pay and, in view of her qualifications, was then appointed as a temporary assistant at a salary of £280 (not £350 per annum, as stated by the hon. Member). Her duties in the Ministry are independent of those of her husband, whose post in view of increased responsibility was upgraded in December, and his salary accordingly increased from £350 to £450 a year.

The increases of salary amounting approximately to £1,070 were granted on the recommendation of the head of the section, who necessarily had the fullest knowledge of the qualifications of his staff, and were approved by the head of the Department. The suggestion that the duties of the promoted officers remained the same as before their promotion is not entirely correct; some of them were, in fact, performing higher duties some time before their promotion, and I am satisfied that no further inquiry is necessary.

Mr. McEntee

Is it not a fact that nearly all these people are friends or relations of the chief officer, were all brought in by him, and given rises at his request? Is it not a fact, also, that they are being instructed in their work by permanent civil servants and that none of them have either experience or knowledge of the work they are doing?

Mr. Cross

To the best of my knowledge and belief none of these persons was a relation of the head of the section, but I will confirm that if the hon. Member questions it. I could not say whether any of them were acquaintances of his or not. If the hon. Member had put that into the Question I would have inquired. As to their qualifications I am perfectly satisfied that these officers are amply qualified for their positions.

Mr. McEntee

Will the hon. Gentleman say whether it is not a fact that they are being instructed in their duties, day by day, by permanent civil servants who are receiving less money, and that they received an average of a 50 per cent. increase in their salaries within a couple of months? Is it not a scandal that these people should be brought in and put over the heads of men who are infinitely better qualified?

Mr. Cross

I have already made it clear that these temporary officers are not over the heads of the permanent officers. They are not even in the same section. They were brought in early in the war at salaries which were extremely low, compared with what they could normally earn in peace-time, and as they gained experience it became possible for them to be graded by virtue of the work they are able to perform.

Sir P. Hannon

May I ask, with reference to all the appointments set forth in these Questions, whether every single member brought into the Department has given full satisfaction to the Department?

Mr. Cross

indicated assent.