§ 60. Sir Ronald Rossasked the Minister of Information how many personnel are needed to censor mails from Northern Ireland to Great Britain in addition to the staff required for other branches of censorship in connection with Ireland; and what is the annual cost to the Treasury for their services to the latest convenient date.
§ Mr. BrackenNo separate staff is engaged on this work, which is carried out by examiners employed primarily in connection with the outward mail.
§ Sir R. RossWill my right hon. Friend answer the latter part of the Question? Surely if he reduces the work by half he 1966 can sack half the staff. Would not that be worth while?
§ Mr. BrackenMy hon. Friend's mathematics seem to be roughly accurate. The cost of the staff is £22,000 a year.
§ Sir R. RossIs £22,000 justified by this useless service?
§ 61. Sir R. Rossasked the Minister of Information whether Northern Ireland has any preferential treatment in the matter of censorship and travel regulations of his Department over the neutral Dominion of Eire; and, if so, what the preferential treatment amounts to.
§ Mr. BrackenNo, Sir. Because of the uncontrolled border between Northern Ireland and Eire both are subject to the same rules for the censorship of mails and telegrams.
§ Sir R. RossIs my right hon. Friend in favour of giving some advantage to citizens of the United Kingdom against those of a rather dubious neutral?
§ Mr. BrackenI should like to do that but most Members representing Northern Irish constituencies are constantly pointing out to me that there is a wicked German Ministry in Dublin and a wicked Japanese Consul-General, and that we ought to watch them.
§ Sir R. RossIs my right hon. Friend not aware that this service is not helping that end at all, as regards censoring letters from Northern Ireland to the United Kingdom, and that we are all in favour of putting an end to it?