§ Mr. WATERSONasked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that, in a letter dated 6th May last from the Divisional Office, Howard Hotel, it was stated 714W that Mr. A. Cooke, who was employed at the Clapham Junction Employment Exchange, was not appointed as special officer but as a temporary clerk who would be available for such duties as might from time to time be allocated to him; and if he will explain the official statement that the Department has never denied that Mr. Cooke was at one time assigned to special duties?
§ Mr. WARDLEI am aware of the statement quoted in the first part of the question. It is also a fact that, in reply to a previous question by the hon. Member for Kingswinford, I said I was not, aware that the Department had ever denied that Mr. Cooke was at one time assigned to special duties. The explanation is that Mr. Cooke, though not appointed a special officer, was available for such duties as might from time to time be allocated to him, and that at one time the duties allocated to him were special duties.