HC Deb 15 February 1944 vol 397 cc26-7
53. Mr. W. J. Brown

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether, to encourage the development of Whitley Councils in the Civil Service and as these councils depend on effective staff organisations, he will give facilities to recognised associations to explain to non-members the benefits of the Whitley system and to recruit them to membership of the associations during official hours, provided that there is no interference with the work of the Departments.

Mr. Assheton

I am anxious that Government Departments should give all reasonable facilities for the development of Whitley machinery, but I do not feel that they can reasonably be asked to give general permission for Staff Association activities of the kind mentioned by the hon. Member in Government offices during working hours.

Mr. Brown

Does not the Financial Secretary realise that the whole Whitley system depends upon the recognition of organisation and that, if it is impossible to organise associations on the basis of where people live and if they are not allowed to do it on the basis of where they work, the erection of the whole structure is impaired?

Mr. Assheton

I should be very sorry to think that that was so.