§ 1. Mr. William Brownasked the President of the Board of Trade the previous commercial or industrial experience of the person recently appointed as an assistant in the North Midland region of the factory and storage premises control?
§ 6. Sir Herbert Williamsasked the President of the Board of Trade the name of the officer senior to Mr. Wigley, in Nottingham, in connection with the inspection of factory space, and the officer who reports on the work of Mr. Wigley, respectively?
§ The President of the Board of Trade (Mr. Dalton)According to the particulars 2 supplied to my Department by the Ministry of Labour, Mr. Wigley was employed for four years in a firm of accountants, then acted for seven years as a traveller in yarns for a Nottingham firm and subsequently for four years was a partner in a Leicester firm dealing in yarns. The Deputy Regional Factory Controller, Mr. A. C. Timms, is the officer immediately senior to Mr. Wigley. The Regional Controller reports on the work of Mr. Wigley and of other assistants, after consultation with the Deputy Controller.
§ Mr. BrownIs the Minister aware that the information contained in that answer is inadequate; that this particular officer had no experience before the war of the kind suggested; and, further, that, during the war, he had been acting in no industry whatever?
§ Mr. DaltonNo, Sir; I have given the hon. Member the answer based upon information furnished to me by other Departments, and I have nothing to add to the previous answer. This officer is doing good work and will continue in his post.
§ Mr. BrownIn view of the dispute about the facts, is the President of the Board of Trade prepared to ask the Minister of Labour to check up on these alleged facts?
§ Mr. DaltonNo, Sir.
§ Mr. BrownI beg to give notice that I shall raise this matter on the Adjournment on the first convenient occasion.