HC Deb 20 May 1941 vol 371 cc1399-401
65. Captain Lyons

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of works and Buildings whether the Director of Cement holds any other appointments or directorships; what are in the main the functions and duties of the office; whether the present holder is in receipt of any, and what, payments or emoluments from the cement, or any allied, industry; and whether he retains any position, remunerated or not, in the cement industry?

Mr. Hicks

The Director of Cement is a director of four business concerns, not connected with the cement trade. His responsibility is, under the Director-General, to direct the work of production, allocation and distribution of cement. He has nothing to do with prices or costs. On his appointment he resigned the chairmanship of the Cement Makers' Federation and of the Cement and Concrete Association. He continues to receive remuneration from the industry, but I am not aware of the amount of this.

Captain Lyons

Do we understand that the Director of Cement, who arranges the priorities of the trade and disputes among the trades in the priorities, is actually in receipt of a stipend from the industry concerned about which he is going to adjudicate?

Mr. Hicks

I answered that Question by saying that he is under the control of a Director-General and that his work is to direct production, allocation and distribution and that he does not operate priorities.

Captain Lyons

And in the distribution which he arranges he is paid by the trade to which he is contributing work. Is not this a wholly novel and thoroughly unsatisfactory position?

Mr. A. Edwards

Would my hon. Friend be surprised to learn that this gentleman received a salary of £5,000 and that, when he ceased to be a Member of these organisations he received another £1,000? Is that a satisfactory state of affairs?

Mr. Hicks

I cannot answer as to the amount, otherwise I would have given it to the hon. and gallant Gentleman. The point is a question not so much of amount as of principle. When the Government, under the stress of war urgency, have to interfere more and more in industry and invite someone from industry to give them assistance, if the industry is prepared to pay a retainer, or emolument, or remuneration, or salary, whether it is £500 or £1,000 it does not matter. If the principle is correct, £5,000 or £10,000 would be justified. If the principle is wrong, neither £5,000 nor £10,000 would be justified. The services which have been invited are of a special character, to give assistance with no control or regulation of prices or costs, and they concern only production, allocation and distribution.

Commander Locker-Lampson

Is he net worth this sum?