HC Deb 05 February 1948 vol 446 cc1893-4
29 and 30. Mr. Pitman

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power (1) whether he will, through the exercise of his general powers of direction, ensure that servants of the National Coal Board are, in respect of publication of any work the subject matter of which is the technical subject of their specialisation, under conditions governing publication no less tavourable than those imposed on Crown servants;

(2) whether he will exercise his general powers of direction to ensure that employees of the National Coal Board shall have full liberty of publication in respect of any work the subject matter of which is the technical subject of their specilisation.

Mr. Gaitskell

I have no evidence that servants of the National Coal Board are being unfavourably treated, and I do not propose to issue general directions to cover hypothetical contingencies.

Mr. Pitman

Will the right hon. Gentleman realise that there is considerable uneasiness in this matter of freedom to propagate progressive ideas, and that it is important that technicians in the coal industry should know that they are free to write and publish any progressive ideas which might occur to them? Will he see that that freedom is generally assured to all employees?

Mr. Gaitskell

If the hon. Member will be good enough to let me have the evidence suggested in the first part of his Question I will look into the matter.

Mr. Pitman

Will the right hon. Gentleman, in advance, make it known to them that they are free to do this? This is a question of technical work, and the knowledge that he is free to give the world, or this country, the benefits of his researches, is of fundamental importance to a technician.

Mr. Gaitskell

No one has suggested that the technicians concerned are not free to do so.

Mr. Pickthorn

Can the Minister tell us what the regulations now are or, without worrying about hypotheses, can he tell us that he will make sure what the regulations are?

Mr. Gaitskell

Certainly, I am quite prepared to make an investigation, but as far as I know there are no restrictions.

Mr. Scollan

Will my right hon. Friend make it known that there are no restrictions on the people doing this kind of thing?

Mr. Gaitskell

There may, of course, be circumstances in which the National Coal Board or, for that matter, any other undertaking, would wish to have some say on exactly what technical information was being published abroad by its employees. But I am prepared to make further inquiries to see exactly what is the position.