§ 19. Dr. Littleasked the Minister of Information whether he will give instructions that letters from Great Britain to Northern Ireland should pass through the censorship with greater expedition, as there are many complaints of serious delay in the delivery of the mails which is causing much anxiety and unnecessary trouble?
§ Mr. BrackenI am advised that mail from Great Britain to Northern Ireland is not held for censorship longer than 24 hours except in the case of letters which have to be detained after examination. I am making inquiries into the particular case submitted to me by my hon. Friend.
§ Dr. LittleDoes my right hon. Friend recognise that these delays, which are unconscionable—a week or 10 days or more—can be remedied only by an increase in the staff of the censorship? I see no other way out.
§ Professor SavoryIs the Minister aware that letters still take four or five days to come from Belfast to the House of Commons?
§ Mr. BrackenIf the hon. Member is right, it is certainly another injustice to Ireland——
§ Professor SavoryNorthern Ireland.
§ Mr. Bracken—Northern Ireland, and I promise to investigate the circumstances, if he will give me some particulars.
§ Commander Locker-LampsonCould my right hon. Friend delay letters coming to English Members of Parliament?
§ Dr. LittleIs the Minister aware that my copy of the Order Paper of the House generally does not arrive until Wednesday afternoon and is of no use to me? Something must be done about it.