§ Mr. R. Morganasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury on what duties Sir Quintin Hill, the substantive Comptroller General of the Department of Overseas Trade, has been employed for the last 12 months; whether he has been in full attendance during that period; whether the duties on which he has been employed are those appropriate to his salary and status; and if and when it is intended to return him to his post as Comptroller General of the Department of Overseas Trade.
§ Mr. PeakeIn the early part of last year Sir Quintin Hill was granted special leave, but since the end of July he has been employed on duties for the War Cabinet Office and the Office of the Minister of Reconstruction. While those duties would not in normal times require a civil servant of his status, the arrangement is considered to be fully justified under wartime conditions. As regards the last part of the Question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which was given to the hon. Member for Grantham (Mr. Kendall) by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 18th388W January of last year, to which I have nothing to add. [Volume 396, No. 15, Columns 20–21.]