HC Deb 13 February 1940 vol 357 cc593-6W
Mr. McEntee

asked the Minister of Economic Warfare whether he is aware that the temporary officials employed in his Department find it necessary continually to consult and to seek advice of permanent civil servants of lower gradings in regard to the figures of foreign countries' trade, the sources from which additional foreign trade statistics may be obtained, and the interpretation of available statistics; and whether he will consider the undesirability of employing in a higher official capacity temporary staffs who are dependent upon subordinate civil servants for the effective carrying-out of their duties?

Mr. Cross

All higher officials are dependent on subordinate civil servants for the effective performance of their duties, and there is nothing unusual in this respect in the position of the officials referred to by the hon. Member; as regards the second part of the Question, I regret I am not prepared to give the assurance asked for.

Mr. McEntee

asked the Minister of Economic Warfare whether he is aware that there is employed in the foreign statistics section of his Department a gentleman who was employed in the advertising department of a West End store, and who was appointed to the Ministry on the initiative of the head of the foreign statistics section, who was also a pre-war employé of this store; that this person is receiving a salary of £450 per annum for duties which fall within the definition of clerical assistant duties in the case of established civil servants for whom a maximum of 72s. per week is prescribed; that attempts have recently been made by the head of the foreign statistics section to secure an improvement in the salary of this officer; and whether he will give an assurance that, in the interests of economy, this post will, in future, be filled by an established civil servant of clerical assistant grading?

Mr. Cross

The reply to the first part of the hon. Member's Question is in the affirmative; as regards the second part, the gentleman in question, together with numerous other candidates from various statistical quarters, was interviewed by the head of the statistics section before the war, and his name, together with those of all other candidates, was submitted for appointment through the head of the Department; he is engaged on responsible duties which are of a character greatly superior to those ordinarily allocated to clerical assistants, and I cannot agree that his post should in future be filled by a clerical assistant; in accordance with normal practice the claims of this officer were recently considered in connection with a vacancy in a senior post in his section.

Mr. McEntee

asked the Minister of Economic Warfare why a married woman whose husband is also engaged in his Department worked for three months without pay; at what salary she was originally appointed; and has her salary now been increased beyond the figure of £280 per annum?

Mr. Cross

The lady referred to by the hon. Member was originally offered a clerical post at a salary of 56s. a week, but rather than take a salary at this level she preferred to work without pay until she had proved her qualifications. After three months' service she was judged fully suitable for appointment as a temporary administrative assistant (Grade III), and she was appointed to that rank at a rate of £280 per annum. Her salary has not since been increased.

Mr. McEntee

asked the Minister of Economic Warfare whether he is aware that established civil servants employed in the statistics section of his Department were earmarked before the war for employment, in the event of war, in the Ministry, because of their qualifications and experience on particularly relevant work; that, in appointing these officers, their proved as well as their academic qualifications were taken into account; what are the reasons why it has been held that these officers have not the experience necessary to undertake the duties performed by temporary officials in his Department; and why the careful pre-war selection of officers for duties in the Ministry of Economic Warfare has not been adhered to?

Mr. Cross

The reply to the first part of the hon. Member's Question is that the established civil servants concerned were earmarked for certain special statistical duties, which they are now performing; the reply to the second part of the Question is in the affirmative; with regard to the third part of his Question, the duties performed by the temporary officials are distinct from those performed by the established civil servants and require qualifications and experience of a different order from those possessed by the latter; with regard to the fourth part of the Question, I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to the first part of his Question.

Colonel Baldwin-Webb

asked the Minister of Economic Warfare at what time the principal officers of the Ministry commence work at the present time, and whether, with a view to expediting business and increasing efficiency, he will arrange for more of the important members of the staff to be on duty by 9 o'clock?

Mr. Cross

The time at which the principal officers of the Ministry commence work varies considerably according to the nature of their duties. Much of the work of the Ministry requires senior officers to work until late in the evening, and I am satisfied that the introduction of a commencing time of 9.0 a.m. would not, in such cases, either expedite business or increase efficiency.