§ 62. Mr. Kendallasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that there are now two officers holding the rank of Comptroller General of the Department of Overseas Trade at a salary of £1,953 per annum; and whether he will arrange for the substantive holder of the post, Sir Quintin Hill, to return to his proper employment from his work on post-war planning with the Minister of Reconstruction so that the Department may have the benefit of his long experience of commercial problems gained in the Board of Trade and the Department of Overseas Trade in its recently increased activities on planning for post-war export trade.
§ The Chancellor of the Exchequer (Sir John Anderson)I am aware of the circumstances to which the hon. Member refers. Arrangements of this kind are an inevitable accompaniment of war-time conditions and where, as in this instance, they affect officers of high rank they are naturally kept under constant review by the Ministers concerned. I can assure the hon. Member that that is so in the case of the Department of Overseas Trade.
§ Sir H. WilliamsIn view of the limited extent of overseas trade, is there any need for this Department at all?
§ Sir J. AndersonThat is another question.