HC Deb 18 July 1949 vol 467 cc47-8W
62. Mr. Howard

asked the Minister of Works if he will state the number of cases in which he has either repudiated or overruled settlements of rehabilitation allowances provisionally agreed on his behalf by professional firms employed by his Department; the grounds on which he took such action in a case, the particulars of which have been supplied to him; and whether the firm concerned in that case is still employed by his Department.

Mr. Key

The hon. Member is under a misapprehension. No question of repudiation arises as any settlements put forward are invariably provisional and subject to confirmation by the Department. It is, however, the normal practice of professional firms employed by my Department to seek guidance in cases of difficulty before a provisional settlement is reached. In the case which the hon. Member has in mind the firm assessed the amount of rehabilitation allowances on a wrong basis. The firm in question has given satisfactory service and is still employed.