Cotton Buying Commission (Appointment)

HC Deb 11 March 1948 vol 448 cc1398-9

13. Mr. Shepherd

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the appointment of Mr. E. Hartley to the British Cotton Buying Commission was arranged through the Ministry of Labour.

Mr. H. Wilson

Under the Cotton (Centralised Buying) Act, 1947, such appointments are a matter for the Commission, and not for the Board of Trade.

Mr. Shepherd

Is it not a fact that the Paymaster-General gave an assurance to the Liverpool Cotton Employees Association that this appointment would be made through the Ministry of Labour, and does he not consider, if the appointment was not made through the Ministry, that it was a breach of faith as far as the Association is concerned?

Mr. Wilson

I should require to look into the question of an assurance. It is the normal practice of the Commission to use the machinery of the Appointments Department of the Ministry of Labour.

Mr. Shepherd

Was it used in this instance?

Mr. Wilson

I have made inquiries into this matter. As I have said, it is a matter for the Commission. In this particular case, as in many others, it was a technical appointment, and they had to look to the technical people available.