§ Mr. A. Edwardsasked the Prime Minister whether he is satisfied that it is in the best interest of the Government that Lord Stamp should act as adviser to the Government at the same time as he is acting as adviser to companies having claims against the Government; how many distinct appointments Lord Stamp has on behalf of the Government; and how many positions as adviser and director he still holds?
§ The Prime MinisterLord Stamp's official position is that of Adviser on Economic Co-ordination to His Majesty's Government and President of the Interdepartmental Committee on Economic Policy. He is Chairman of the London Midland and Scottish Railway, whose operations are now under Government control, and holds certain other directorships which form an integral part of his railway work; he is also a Director of the Bank of England. The country needs at this time the services of the ablest advisers in many spheres and it has been judged neither necessary nor desirable to insist that advisers who have no direct executive functions should lay down for the time being any commercial posts that they may hold. It is needless for me to say that Lord Stamp does not advise His Majesty's Government in their relations with institutions with which he is connected.