§ Mr. T. GRIFFITHSasked the Minister of Agriculture whether, with reference to the death of Mr. E. E. Webb, of the Ordnance Survey, Southampton, he will call for the official record of Mr. Webb's service on the Ordnance Survey in whatever form such records are usually kept in that Department, together with all the correspondence that may be referred to in that record; and whether he can give a more definite assurance that, in future members of the staff employed on the Ordnance Survey will not, in cases of critical illness, have their chances of recovery imperilled by the service of notice of discharge during their period of absence from duty from that cause?
Sir A. BOSCAWENI have already seen the official record of Mr. Webb's service in the Ordnance Survey. As regards the second part of the question, I am only too ready to give the hon. Member the assurance he desires, but I would point out that when Mr. Webb was given notice of discharge he had been absent only for a few days on account of a minor2336W ailment, and his sick-leave in no way affected his discharge.