HC Deb 11 March 1943 vol 387 cc835-6
7. Mr. William Brown

asked the Minister of Labour the age of the recently appointed assistant to the North Midland regional factory premises controller; and for what purposes he was ever directed for any national service work prior to his appointment by the Board of Trade?

Mr. Bevin

I assume that my hon. Friend refers to the man recently appointed a senior temporary assistant (technical) by the Factory and Storage Premises Control of the Board of Trade. His age is 36. He was registered under the National Service Acts as a yarn-merchant on his own account for the previous twelve years, joined the Police War Reserve in August, 1940, but was discharged for medical reasons which further resulted in his not being called up when medically examined for service in His Majesty's Forces. For the same reasons of health it proved impracticable to transfer him to more important work, and he has therefore at no time been directed to take up war work.

Mr. Brown

Will the Minister see that the machinery of his Department, especially the National Register, shall not be used to cover appointments which are quite indefensible in the national interest as this one was?

Mr. Bevin

I cannot accept the assertion that it was indefensible. I can only give the facts as I got them.

Sir Herbert Williams

Experience as a yarn merchant does not make him an expert on factories, does it?

Mr. Bevin

No, Sir, but a yarn merchant sometimes finds his way to this House.