HC Deb 07 December 1949 vol 470 c1886
61. Mr. Hurd

asked the Minister of Food if, having regard to the recent resignations of Mr. J. N. McLean, special adviser to the chairman and Board of the Overseas Food Corporation, and Colonel J. A. Stirling, the Board's regional general manager in the Southern Province of Tanganyika, and in view of the consequent loss of confidence by the staff in the ability of the Board to carry through the recently announced programme of development he will now strengthen the Board accordingly.

Mr. Strachey

No, Sir. His Majesty's Government have full confidence in the ability of the Board of the Overseas Food Corporation as reconstituted to shoulder its responsibilities.

Mr. Hurd

Is the Minister taking no notice of these and other resignations of senior men from the groundnut scheme—men who, surely, would not lightly have thrown up good posts—and will he not in any way take the opportunity of having a personal discussion with the senior officers who have thrown in their hands?

Mr. Strachey

If an individual asked to come and see me, I would not refuse to see him, certainly.

Lord John Hope

Can the right hon. Gentleman tell us how many resignations he needs from this Board before sending in his own?

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