HC Deb 15 June 1944 vol 400 cc2121-2
17 and 18. Mr. Lipson

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he proposes to enforce upon unwilling authorities the policy laid down in Home Security Circular No. 73/1944 that a member of a local authority should not be both a member of the emergency committee and a controller or sub-controller, paid or unpaid;

(2) which regional commissioners he consulted before he issued Home Security Circular No. 73/1944, which lays down that a member of a local authority should not be both a member of the emergency committee and a controller or sub-controller, paid or unpaid.

Mr. H. Morrison

All the regional commissioners were consulted before the issue of this circular and I have advised local authorities to refer to them when they are in doubt whether changes are necessary in their arrangements to bring them into reasonable conformity with the terms of the circular. The regional commissioners are in a position to advise them, and I have little evidence at present of general unwillingness on the part of local authorities to accept that advice. Indeed, Press reports suggest that many authorities have already welcomed the guidance given. I should be reluctant to make any statement at this stage which seemed to imply that local authorities in general were not in agreement with the principles enunciated or that any compulsion should be necessary on my part. But I do attach importance in principle to a distinction being drawn between a member of a policy-making and directing local authority committee on the one hand and an executive officer responsible to the committee on the other.

Mr. Lipson

If a local authority satisfied the regional commissioner that a change was undesirable, he would not insist upon the change taking place?

Mr. Morrison

I do not wish to commit myself to that extent. A local authority is perfectly free to make representations, and if there is an exceptional case it will be considered.

Mr. Austin Hopkinson

Is it not far more important that regional commissioners and their deputies should not be prospective Labour candidates for constituencies?

Mr. Morrison

There has never been an embargo upon a regional commissioner being either a Member of Parliament or a candidate, and I must say I think it is a little wrong on the part of my hon. Friend to single out one political party?

Mr. Hopkinson

The right hon. Gentleman says that I am wrong; will he explain in what respect?

Mr. Morrison

In picking on one political party.