HC Deb 11 September 1942 vol 383 cc503-4
13. Mr. Lipson

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many enforcement officers of his Department have been found guilty of disobeying their instructions to avoid provocation; and what action has been taken against them?

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade (Captain Waterhouse)

None, Sir, apart from one borderline case, on which my right hon. Friend decided, after a full investigation, that no disciplinary action was called for.

Mr. Lipson

Have inquiries been made by the Department into the very serious allegations against enforcement officers of this Department made in an article which appeared in the "Spectator," in regard to an incident in Devonshire?

Captain Waterhouse

Yes, Sir; but careful search through all cases brought by the Department in and around Devonshire has revealed no evidence confirming the alleged incident. My hon. Friend the Member for West Leicester (Mr. H. Nicolson), who wrote the article, has explained to me that he accepts no responsibility for the authenticity of the report of this incident. He quoted it in his article as it had been repeated to him only as an example of an incredible story which he did not and does not believe.

Mr. Lipson

In view of the wide publicity given to the allegation, will the Minister take steps, in fairness to the officers of his Department, to see that the widest publicity is given to his reply, and will he ask the editor of the "Spectator" to publish in the next issue of the paper the statement which he has just made?

Captain Waterhouse

I hope the Answer to the Question will give the necessary publicity. I will consider the letter to the "Spectator."

Major Lyons

Is there no truth in a similar allegation made in connection with the City of Leicester?

Captain Waterhouse

My hon. Friend the Member for West Leicester was unwilling to give me details of the location of that particular incident. We are therefore making exhaustive inquiries to try to trace it to the ground. As soon as that is done, I will communicate with my hon. and gallant Friend.