HC Deb 08 April 1965 vol 710 cc643-4
11. Mr. Bruce-Gardyne

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs what is the total number of industrialists now employed directly or indirectly by his Department in an advisory or part-time capacity; and what is the total number of man-hours which these people may expect to devote to this work during the course of a full year.

Mr. George Brown

Seven industrialists are employed in my Department on a full-time basis as temporary civil servants.

Mr. Bruce-Gardyne

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that that does not really answer the Question which I asked? I asked for the number of in- dustrialists employed by his Department in an advisory or part-time capacity? If this information is not available, will the right hon. Gentleman see whether he can make it available, since I suggest that many of these people might be better employed if they could get on with their proper job of producing more goods for export?

Mr. Brown

That was a jolly silly supplementary question, because I did answer the Question and give the hon. Gentleman an exact answer: that I have seven industrialists from top posts in industry—whom the hon. Gentleman may not like—employed on a full-time basis in my Department; I have no others.