HC Deb 23 March 1948 vol 448 cc2760-2
42. Mr. Edelman

asked the Prime Minister if he will give a schedule of those Fascist or Communist organisations, association with which will render civil servants ineligible for certain posts in the Civil Service.

43. Mr. Marlowe

asked the Prime Minister what factors are to be taken into account by a Minister when called upon to determine whether or not a Government servant who is not known to be a member of the Communist Party is engaging in a form of association with the Communist Party which is inimical to the State; and upon what principles the Minister is to decide this question.

The Prime Minister (Mr. Attlee)

As I have already indicated, the governing consideration in all cases is whether the association raises legitimate doubts as to the reliability and loyalty to the State of the person concerned. It would therefore be inappropriate to try to define lists of organisations the membership of which would render a civil servant ineligible for employment in certain posts in the Government Service.

Mr. Edelman

Would my right hon. Friend confirm that he will continue to safeguard the rights of the subject, so that any charge against a person is exactly defined, capable of judicial test, and not left to the arbitrary and secret action of the Executive?

The Prime Minister

I made a statement on that yesterday.

Mr. Marlowe

Has not the right hon. Gentleman left the position still the same by referring to legitimate doubts? If there is no guidance in this matter, may note Ministers decide on entirely different principles, with the resultant danger of a lack of uniformity? How can Ministers decide between Communists and "fellow-travellers," in view of the fact that many Ministers seem to be incapable of doing so in regard to members of their own party?

The Prime Minister

Very good guidance will be given.

Mr. Fernyhough

Is my right hon. Friend aware that leading Front Bench statesmen of the party opposite in The High Peak Division have been intimating to the coalminers——

Mr. Speaker

That has nothing to do with the Question on the Order Paper.

Mr. Fernyhough

With your permission, Sir, I was going to point out——

Mr. Speaker

That is exactly what the hon. Member ought not to do. One asks a question of the Prime Minister to obtain information, not to give information about what some Members of the Opposition have done. That is not what we do in Parliament.

Mr. Blackburn

Would it not have been quite impossible to frame any charge whatever, on his appointment, against Professor Nunn-May, who gave to the Soviet Union such important information on atomic energy and on R.D.X. in August, 1945? Does not that clearly show the wisdom of giving the widest discretion to the Minister, as the Prime Minister said?

Mr. Seollan

Can the Prime Minister tell the House who was responsible for putting these Communists and "fellow-travellers" into these responsible jobs?

Mr. Fernyhough

Can the Prime Minister assure the House that this purge will not affect the ordinary working employees in nationalised industries, as has been indicated in the Brigg by-election by one of the leading spokesmen of the party opposite?

The Prime Minister

I am afraid that I do not know what has been said in the Brigg by-election; but I have laid down quite clearly exactly the way in which this will apply.

Lieut.-Commander Gurney Braithwaite

Do Ministers who, in the past, have been associated with both Fascists and Communists qualify for a life purge?