§ 46. Sir J. BUTCHERasked the Prime Minister whether the number of persons employed in Government offices who are not children of natural-born subjects of this country or of an Allied country, and as to whom there is no definite national reason for such employment, has been found by Lord Justice Bankes' Committee 323 to be 849; whether he can state in how many of these cases, respectively, both parents were enemy subjects; one parent only was an enemy subject; one parent only was a neutral subject; both parents were neutral subjects; and the nationality was unknown; how many of these 849 persons have been removed from their employment; and to which of the above classes the persons so removed belong?
§ Mr. SHORTTI have no information beyond that which is contained in the published Report. None of the persons referred to have been removed.
§ Sir J. BUTCHERIf it was desirable, in the opinion of the Committee, in February last, that 849 of these persons should be dismissed from the public service, why is it not desirable that they should be dismissed now?
§ Mr. SHORTTIt was not put in that way. There were 849 as to whom there was no special reason why they should be retained.
§ Sir J. BUTCHERWas not the inquiry into the very question whether there were any persons who ought to be retained, and whether those in respect of whom there was no reason should be dismissed?
§ Mr. SHORTTThe Committee did not advise whether they should be dismissed or not.
§ Sir R. COOPERCould the right hon. Gentleman say how it is that 220 of these people with. both parents enemy subjects have been employed during five years of war without the Government discovering the fact?
§ Mr. SHORTTI cannot answer that question.
§ Sir E. CARSONAre there not 849 officers out of employment who might be given some of these positions?
§ Mr. SHORTTThat matter is now under the consideration of the Committee which is dealing with it.