§ 43. Sir Henry Morris-Jonesasked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether his attention has been called to a recent court case wherein the witness was a grade III clerk at the regional fuel office who stated to the judge, in reply to a question, that very few of the applications for supplementary petrol went up to the control officer but were dealt with by him; and what steps he has taken to remedy this state of affairs.
§ Mr. GaitskellI would refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary to the hon. Member for Salisbury (Mr. J. Morrison) on 11th November. I do not accept the statement attributed to the clerk in question. While routine renewal applications may be dealt with in the first instance by grade III clerks, their work is invariably subject to check by another officer.
§ Sir H. Morris-JonesIn view of the fact that this statement was made by this clerk on oath how can the right hon. Gentleman reconcile his reply with that? Can the right hon. Gentleman give an assurance to the House that, in view of the repercussions of this matter on large and important sections of our people, it will be dealt with at a higher level than a grade III clerk, and that a specific assurance will be given.
§ Mr. GaitskellIf the hon. Member reads the answer given on 11th November and my answer he will see that a complete assurance was given.
§ Mr. J. Langford-HoltThe right hon. Gentleman has said that the actions of this clerk are subject to inspection. Will he explain to the House what "subject to inspection" means? Does it mean that all the work of these lower grades is inspected?
§ Mr. GaitskellIt means, if the hon. Gentleman will take note of the words which I used, that their work is invariably subject to check by another officer.