§ 16. Sir Ronald Rossasked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that on joint release committees of the Fighting Services which consider cases of citizens of Northern Ireland, the Northern Ireland Ministry of Labour is unrepresented whereas a representative of the British Ministry of Labour is one of the tribunal and that in certain instances this official, who is without authority as to citizens of Northern Ireland or knowledge of conditions in Northern Ireland, has overruled recommendations of Northern Ireland Departments; and whether, as labour is a transferred service, a representative of the Northern Ireland Ministry of Labour will be substituted for a representative of the British Ministry of Labour in such cases.
§ Mr. BevinAs I informed my hon. Friend on 24th January, any necessary information regarding an application for the release of a member of the Armed Forces for work in Northern Ireland is furnished by the appropriate Department of the Government of Northern Ireland. The principles to be followed, in deciding whether the facts put forward in support of an application justify a favourable recommendation to the Service Departments, are the same for Northern Ireland as for Great Britain. I do not 2204 consider, therefore, that any change is necessary in the existing procedure which has worked satisfactorily.
§ Sir R. RossIs the Minister willing that people should be deprived of their constitutional rights because they have volunteered to serve in the Armed Service; and are citizens of Northern Ireland not entitled to have their cases adjudicated upon by their own Ministry of Labour?
§ Mr. BevinThe arrangements between us and the Northern Ireland Government have been worked out by the two Departments. I am not aware that there is any ground for the statement which the hon. Gentleman has just made.
§ Sir R. RossIs the Minister not aware that his representatives on these committees overruled the recommendations of the Department of Northern Ireland, who know the facts?