§ 56. Sir H. Williamsasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will clarify the position with regard to participation of civil servants in politics, having regard to the refusal of the Board of Trade to permit Mr. D. Craven Griffiths, Secretary of the North Midland Regional Price Regulation Committee, to contest, as an Independent, the Clay Cross by-election, and the fact that Mr. A. G. Bottomley, Deputy Regional Commissioner for South-East England, has been adopted as a prospective Labour candidate for Chatham.
§ Sir J. AndersonCivil servants are prohibited by Order in Council from becoming candidates or prospective candidates for Parliament until they have retired or resigned from their Civil Service employment. No question of the granting or withholding of permission to Mr. Griffiths is therefore involved. The position of Mr. Bottomley is different. The Regional Commissioners Act, 1939, expressly provides 536 that regional commissioners and deputy regional commissioners shall not by reason of their holding those offices be rendered incapable of being elected or of sitting or voting, as Members of the House of Commons.
§ Mr. W. J. BrownIs it not unreasonable to require a civil servant to retire from the Civil Service before he knows whether he is elected or not? Would it not be better to allow him to stand and see whether he is successful?
§ Sir J. AndersonI certainly do not myself take that view.