HC Deb 02 March 1915 vol 70 c644
16 Sir WILLIAM BULL

asked (1) the Postmaster-General how many applications for positions in the office of the Censor of Mails have been received from British subjects with linguistic knowledge; whether such applications have received full consideration; how many of such applicants were appointed; and how many foreigners hold positions in the office; (2) the Postmaster-General whether during the last few weeks three ladies have been dismissed from the office of the Censor of Mails for irregularities; if so, whether he will state the nationality of the ladies in question; and whether the information they obtained in the Censor's office is likely to be of value to an enemy or neutral country; and (3) the Under-Secretary for War if a lady recently appointed by the Censor of Mails failed to put in an appearance after the first day or two of her appointment; whether she disappeared with information likely to be of value to an enemy country; and what inquiries were made about the lady in question prior to her appointment and since her disappearance?

Mr. TENNANT

The only case of a lady leaving after a few days' employment occurred in December last. Her departure was due to the fact that the hours of work were too long for her. She had access to no information of importance. I regret I cannot undertake to give statistics and particulars of all the applications referred to in Question No. 17. But I may state that all have received and will continue to receive full consideration. The number of foreigners employed is 27. The answer to Question 32 is in the negative.