HC Deb 08 May 1919 vol 115 cc1094-5
47. Sir J. BUTCHER

asked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that the non-publication of the Report by Lord Justice Bankes' Committee on the employment of aliens and persons of alien descent in the Civil Service is causing much doubt as to the attitude to be adopted towards the large number of Government employés who are dealt with in the Report; whether, seeing that the Report was presented to him in February last, he will now give orders for its publication; and what steps he is taking to carry into effect the recommendations of the Committee?

48 and 49. Sir HERBERT NIELD

asked (1) what number of persons within the terms of reference to the Committee set up by him on 1st August last have been found by the Report of the Committee to be employed in Government offices during the War who are not children of natural-born subjects of this country or of an Allied country and in respect of whom no definite national reason for such employment has been found by the Committee; whether any and what number of these persons have been discharged from the Government service; and for what reason have any been retained in face of the conclusions of the Committee; and (2) whether the Committee appointed to examine into the cases of aliens or descendants of aliens employed in Government offices, popularly known as Lord Justice Bankes' Committee, has presented its Report; when did such presentation take place; and why has the Report not been printed and presented to Parliament?

Mr. SHORTT

The Report referred to was presented to the Prime Minister on the 14th February by Lord Justice Bankes, with a letter, a portion of which I have the permission of the Lord Justice to read to the House: There is a very general fear among I hose whose names appear in the Schedules to our Report that any publication of the Schedules would seriously affect their prospects of obtaining employment. We have done our best, in the body of our Report to remove any such prejudice, but we trust that you will consider the question of whether it is possible to publish the Report without the Schedules, The Report will be published at an early date in the form recommended by the Committee. Any ground for immediate action having disappeared, action on the Report is being delayed, as the whole question of the employment of persons of alien origin in Government Departments is being considered by the Government.

Sir J. BUTCHER

What is the good of appointing a Committee if you neither publish their Report nor act upon it?

Mr. SHORTT

We happen to be doing both.

Sir J. BUTCHER

Why does the right hon. Gentleman not act upon this Report which I think contains 2,000 names?

Sir H NIELD

Is it really the intention of the Government to burke the whole business and let these people remain in Government offices?

Mr. SHORTT

Certainly not.