§ 20. Mr. Goughasked the Minister of Education if he will now institute an inquiry into the circumstances relating 774 to the down-grading and subsequent dismissal of Mr. F. St. A. Hartley from the Science Museum by Dr. Morrison-Scott in 1956.
§ Sir D. EcclesNo, Sir. Mr. Hartley was neither down-graded nor dismissed. He was retired at age 61 by the exercise of the discretion resting with the head of the department to retire officers who have reached the age of 60. In my view, the decision was a proper exercise of that discretion.
§ Mr. GoughWould not my right hon. Friend agree that at the time I took this matter up with him there was a long file on the subject and that perhaps his Answer is rather too brief in view of the circumstances? Would he further agree that these two gentlemen whose names appear on the Order Paper are both constituents of mine and that the name of one of them has recently appeared in connection with an almost exactly similar case of dismissal which was brought to the attention of the House by my hon. Friend the Member for Wimbledon (Sir C. Black)? In view of the very undesirable publicity which has arisen over that case, does not my right hon. Friend think that it be right and proper to reopen the Hartley case and have a proper inquiry?
§ Sir D. EcclesNo, Sir. I do not think so. I think that my hon. Friend is mistaken. In both the case in his Question and the other case to which he referred, the decision to dismiss the man concerned was not taken by Dr. Morrison-Scott. It was taken by higher authority.
§ Mr. GoughOn a point of order. It would obviously be impossible in question and answer to pursue the matter further. I therefore beg to give notice that I shall raise the matter on the Adjournment at the earliest opportunity.