HC Deb 26 November 1947 vol 444 c294W
Sir E. Graham-Little

asked the Minister of Agriculture in view of the regulations which prohibit civil servants from being concerned in outside employment for personal profit, why a director of four companies, whose name has been given to him, is employed by his Department at a salary of £1,500 a year, although one of the companies is engaged in the production of chemical fertilisers and the other companies are interested in finance and agricultural production.

Mr. T. Williams

The regulations referred to have been suspended during the war and post-war period, in order that Government Departments might obtain the valuable assistance of many able business men. The officer to whom the hon. Member refers was good enough to agree to serve my Department in an advisory capacity for the period of the war and is continuing his services up to the end of the current year at my special request. I am satisfied that his private interests have in no way conflicted with his official duties.