HC Deb 05 July 1955 vol 543 cc964-5
The Lord Privy Seal (Mr. Harry Crook-shank)

I have to inform the House that it has come to notice that the hon. Member for Hallam (Sir R. Jennings) has for some years held an appointment from the Treasury as an Approved Auditor for Great Britain for the purposes of the Industrial and Provident Societies Acts, the Friendly Societies Acts and the Industrial Assurance Acts. This appointment I am now advised may be an office of profit under the Crown and the hon. Member may consequently have been incapable of election to this House.

Hon. Members will recall that last week, in somewhat similar circumstances, a Select Committee was set up to consider the validity of the election of the hon. Member for Pollok (Mr. George), and it is now proposed, if the House agrees, to refer the case of the hon. Member for Hallam to this same Select Committee.

I think I should inform the House that the hon. Member took steps, immediately he became aware of the position, to resign his appointment. Beyond that, however, I do not think that there is anything I can usefully or properly add at this stage.

Mr. Attlee

Does the right hon. Gentleman think that there are many more of these cases coming along?

Mr. Crookshank

I have no idea, but we should have to go a long way to reach the number of five Labour cases in 1945.

Mr. J. Hynd

I understand that some time ago this whole question of offices of profit under the Crown and the Act which covered it was being examined by the Government in order that the whole situation could be cleared up to meet special modern circumstances. Are the Government continuing that examination? If so, is there any prospect of this intolerable situation being brought to an end?

Mr. Crookshank

The hon. Gentleman is quite right. This matter is very complicated and has been studied by both the present Government and previous Administrations. He may be surprised how soon a Bill may come along on the subject.