§ 55. Mr. William Brownasked the Minister of Supply whether Sir Nigel Campbell, Mr. Graham Cunningham, Sir Percy Mills and Sir Cecil Weir, employed in the Ministry of Supply as head of non-munitions supply industries division, controller general of munitions production, controller general of machine tools, and director general equipment and supplies, respectively, sought and obtained his permission before they signed the manifesto issued in November, 1942, and entitled "A National Policy for Industry"?
§ Sir A. DuncanI am concerned with only three of the gentlemen referred to. In their case the answer is "No, Sir."
§ Mr. BrownWill the right hon. Gentleman have regard to the fact that in the case of permanent Civil servants it would be regarded as a considerable offence for them to put their signatures to documents which might have relation to Government policy in their private capacity? Will he see that the same restrictions are imposed on war-time temporary Civil servants?
§ Sir A. DuncanI regard this as a matter on which it was not necessary for them to ask my permission.
§ Mr. BrownIs any business man who comes in a temporary capacity into the public service free to put his name to all sorts of documents which a permanent Civil servant cannot?
§ Sir A. DuncanI was not speaking of all sorts of documents, but of the particular document referred to.