HC Deb 04 October 1944 vol 403 c942
68. Sir H. Williams

asked the Minister of Information whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that an employee of the Ministry of Information Press Censorship, whose name has been communicated to him, was injured by a flying bomb on 24th July, as a result of which he had to be sent to hospital for 11 days; that, as this employee had not been in the service of the Ministry for three months on the date of the incident, his pay was stopped for the 11 days he was in hospital; and will he reconsider the treatment of this case.

Mr. Bracken

I regret that the Ministry of Information has no power to reconsider this case. They are bound by the rules which apply to all Government Departments, and I must refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by the Financial Secretary to the Treasury on 3rd August in reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Gillingham (Sir R. Gower).

Sir H. Williams

Does my right hon. Friend not think it rather discreditable for the State to be such a harsh employer?

Sir Irving; Albery

Is my right hon. Friend aware that such treatment would not be meted out by any decent private employer?