HC Deb 02 May 1944 vol 399 cc1182-4
29. Mr. W. J. Brown

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that the arrangements provided in the confidential circular issued by the War Office Director of Establishments, relating to the staggering of hours in Central London the disclosure of the contents of which is being made the basis of disciplinary action against the officer concerned who acted in his trade union capacity, were disclosed freely to staff representatives in other Government departments similarly affected so that the staff could be notified and have also been referred to in the Press; and whether he will assure the House that no disciplinary action will be taken against the officer mentioned.

Sir J. Grigg

The documents concerned in this case were in the first place a circular letter from the Director of Establishments to Directors which included a reference to a decision of the Army Council on a proposal which was not adopted, and in the second a personal letter in reply from one of the Directors. The terms of this reply were made the basis of an attack by the Civil Service Clerical Association on the action of this Director.

But as I told the hon. Member on 25th April, the question is not what are the contents of the documents disclosed. The question is whether a State employee has the right to extract information from, or to make a copy documents to which he has had access in the course of his official duties, and communicate it without authority to his Association. That is the right which I understand the Civil Service Clerical Association have claimed, and which, of course, is quite inadmissible. As far as the present case is concerned I understand that the Association admit to having received information about the contents of the two letters to which I have referred.

No charge has yet been made against any individual in this particular case. But if on investigation a breach of the regulations in this matter is brought home to any individual, all relevant factors will be considered in deciding on the action to be taken.

Mr. Brown

Could not the Secretary of State for War adjust this case and prevent any similar case from arising in future, by giving instructions that all directions touching staff interests and conditions in the War Office shall be communicated in a form which does not render the individual liable to a charge under the Official Secrets Act if he passes the information on to his union?

Sir J. Grigg

That seems to me to take it for granted that the War Office, or Government Departments generally, should admit the right of branch secretaries, or members of staff associations, to communicate documents to their associations. That is a right which neither I nor any other head of a Department can admit.

Mr. Brown

Would not the Minister overcome this difficulty by seeing that a copy of such instructions is communicated to the headquarters of the union?

Sir J. Grigggg

It is quite impossible to give any such categorical assurance. The original letter from the Director of Establishments, it is perfectly true, referred, among other things, to certain procedure which had been discussed previously with the Staff Association.

Mr. Austin Hopkinson

Are we to understand from that reply that gross breaches of trust, even if committed by trade unions, will be punished in future?

Mr. Brown

On a point of Order. May I give notice that I will raise this matter on the Adjournment?