HC Deb 08 February 1944 vol 396 cc1620-1
51. Sir Leonard Lyle

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that a man described by the police as one of Britain's most adept pickpockets was recently employed and promoted in the Civil Service after being sent there by the employment exchange and that he was dismissed not because of any misconduct but because of police revelations as to his pre-service record; and what are the Treasury rules with regard to this matter.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer (Sir John Anderson)

The particular case mentioned has not come to my notice, but I can assure my hon. Friend that all reasonable precautions are taken in the engagement of temporary staff. Inevitably, under war conditions, mistakes occur from time to time, but there are no general Treasury rules to deal with such a situation. The dismissal of a temporary civil servant is within the discretion of the Department concerned, and the manner in which this discretion is exercised must clearly depend upon the circumstances in each individual case.

Sir L. Lyle

Can my right hon. Friend give an assurance that this gentleman was not employed as a tax collector by the Inland Revenue; or was he employed by the Board of Trade in designing the austerity suit?

Mr. Benson

Do the Government, in fact, encourage a statement of this kind by the police, because, if so, it is a very serious matter?

Sir J. Anderson

Surely, that is quite a separate question.