HC Deb 12 February 1957 vol 564 c156W
58. Mr. Younger

asked the Secretary to the Treasury what procedure is now followed when the reliability of a person not in Government employment, whose work is vital to the security of the State, is thought to be in doubt on security grounds; whether such cases are now referred to the Three Advisers; and what terms of reference have been given to these advisers.

Mr. Powell

The procedure was described by my noble Friend the Lord Chancellor in another place on 21st June last. As was stated by the late Prime Minister on 10th July last, employees of Government contractors engaged on secret Government contracts who, as a result of a directive by a Minister are dismissed or, in his opinion, become liable to suffer financial loss, are given the same right as persons in the public service of having their case considered by the Three Advisers. The terms of reference of the Three Advisers in any such cases are the same as those where civil servants are concerned. These were stated in my reply to the hon. Member for Epping (Mr. Finlay) on 29th January.