§ 57. Mr. Ritsonasked the Minister of Food if he is aware that the food committees of Durham Rural and City Councils have decided to resign as a protest against the action of the Ministry in refusing to allow the food executive officer, Miss A. Powley, who had resigned because of ill-health, to withdraw her 230 resignation upon recovery from her illness; and if he will reconsider the case in the light of this serious protest.
§ Colonel LlewellinI considered this case very fully myself before writing to the chairmen of the food control committees concerned. I do not consider that there is any reason to review the decision about which I then told them. I, however, very much hope that the members of these two committees will continue to assist in the essential work which falls to us together to perform.
§ Mr. RitsonIs it not a very serious matter that when these two committees ask for a hearing they cannot get a hearing and a deputation is refused? Can there not be the same sort of hearing as was given to the question of Durham Cathedral?
§ Colonel LlewellinI did not refuse to meet a deputation. What happened was that the late food executive officer resigned on the ground of continued ill-health, the unsatisfactory premises in which she had to work, the difficulty of controlling staff and the long railway journey from her home. That resignation was accepted. A new food executive officer has been appointed, but if we can find another job for the late food executive officer we shall do so.