§ Mr. Lewisasked the Minister of Economic Warfare whether or not members of the staff of his Department, recruited from outside the ranks of the regular Civil Service, are permitted to hold directorships of companies?
§ Mr. FootThe practice followed in the Ministry of Economic Warfare is that which is prescribed for the Civil Service generally in time of war. When a person appointed to a temporary post in the Ministry does not wish to sever all connection with his commercial interests, no objection is raised, provided that he takes no direct or active part in the control of356W his business. The criterion is that he should be free to devote his full services to the work of the Ministry, and should not be placed in a position where his official duties conflict, or appear to conflict, with his private interests, or where information acquired in his official capacity might be used for the benefit of such interests.