§ Captain A. HOPEasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that in February, 1920, Mr. R. W. Pinder, a married ex-officer, aged 42, was appointed to a situation of senior staff officer at the Board of Trade, and that the said situation was represented to him in writing as permanent and pensionable; that, in order to accept this appointment in the Civil Service, Mr. Pinder, with the knowledge of the Board of Trade, resigned a lucrative commercial post to which he would have returned when no longer required by the Army authorities; that in the 1923–24 Board of Trade. Estimates, dated 28th February, 1923, provision for three months only was made for his remuneration at the Board of Trade; that Mr. Pinder was not provided for in the Board of Trade reorganisation scheme put into operation on the 1st April, which involved, among other things, the appointment of other civil servants of the same class to the staff at the Board of Trade; 1931W that on the 2nd March, 1923, Mr. Pinder was informed verbally, and on the 6th March by letter, that his permanent and pensionable appointment in the public service would terminate on the 1st May, although no misconduct or inefficiency was alleged; on what grounds was Mr. Pinder relieved of his duties; what steps were taken to compensate Mr. Pinder for the loss sustained by him owing to his dismissal by the Board of Trade from the permanent Civil Service; and when and by whom were such steps initiated?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERI am sending my hon. and gallant Friend a copy of an answer on this subject given in the House in 1923, which will give him a detailed reply to the questions he has raised.