§ 6. Mr. William Shepherdasked the President of the Board of Trade whether staffs of raw material controls are allowed to engage in business as merchants and exporters of articles made from the raw materials concerned.
§ Sir S. CrippsNo member of the stall of the Board of Trade may engage in any occupation or undertaking which might in any way conflict with the interests of the Department or be inconsistent with his position as a public servant. A very few members of the raw material controls have always been permitted to keep in general contact with their firms, but not to engage actively in their day-to-day management.
§ Mr. ShepherdIs the right hon. and learned Gentleman aware that I have evidence of a particular individual in one of these controls not only engaging in the sale of the article concerned but, in the opinion of responsible firms, using his influence against them to prevent them 571 from getting their allocation? If I submit the evidence, will the right hon. and learned Gentleman consider taking action?
§ Sir S. CrippsI shall be very much obliged to the hon. Gentleman if he will send me whatever evidence he has.