HC Deb 31 January 1949 vol 460 c1373
45. Sir J. Mellor

asked the Prime Minister why civil servants removed from employment in one Department on the ground of alleged Communist activities are offered employment in another Department.

The Prime Minister (Mr. Attlee)

The Government's aim is not to exclude such people from the Civil Service but only to ensure that they are not employed on secret work. In some cases transfer to another Department is either the only or the most convenient means of offering the alternative employment I promised in my statement of 15th March, 1948.

Sir J. Mellor

But why are many of these unwanted Communists dumped on the Ministry of Education? Is not that another fruitful field for their malicious activities?

The Prime Minister

I have not any information about this alleged dumping, but it obviously cannot be very many because last week in the House I gave the figures of the transfers.