§ 51. Mr. Sidney Shephardasked the Minister of Labour how many individual specialists have applied for release under Class B; and how many releases have been granted.
§ Mr. IsaacsApplications for the release of individual specialists have to be made to the Government Department primarily concerned with the work for which release is desired and it is not possible to say how many such applications have been made. The number of men and women released in Class B as individual specialists by 28th February, 1946, was 9,667.
§ Mr. McGovernMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman if there could not be a more efficient and speedy system devised for the consideration of these cases? When letters are sent to Departments, it 574 is usually two or three months before answers are received.
§ Mr. IsaacsThe difficulty arises not in the handling of the papers and requests in this country; it is mainly due to the fact that the men asked for are a long way overseas and that there is difficulty in getting them back.