HC Deb 29 November 1945 vol 416 cc1512-3
2. Mr. McEntee

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many citizens of Eire and of Northern Ireland are now undergoing terms of imprisonment in this country for political offences; and whether he will now consider favourably an amnesty for all or for some categories of such prisoners.

Mr. Ede

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Leeds, Central (Mr. G. Porter) on 28th November.

Mr. McEntee

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether the fact that he is unable to distinguish, in fact, between Northern Ireland and Eire is an indication of his desire to abolish that stupid border?

Mr. Ede

I do not think my action should be given so general an application as that.

Dr. Little

Did the right hon. Gentleman have a border at all in his mind when answering the Question?

Mr. Speaker

That just shows into what trouble a rather irrelevant supplementary may lead one.