50. Surgeon Lieut.-Commander Bennettasked the Minister of Defence what standard policy of security and screening he employs to ensure that only men and women who are loyal to this country are employed on Service material and in Service establishments.
§ Mr. ShinwellThe general principle is that no one whose reliability is doubtful is employed on work the nature of which is vital to the security of the State. The Service Ministers and the Minister of Supply are responsible for the application of that principle in establishments under their control.
Surgeon Lieut.-Commander BennettIs the Minister aware that we shall have even louder explosions in some of our atom bomb plants unless the Government's present policy of laissez faire about Communism in Government establishments is improved?
§ Mr. ShinwellI should imagine that that is a very unwise observation.
§ Mr. BraineDoes the Minister consider that anyone holding Communist views should be employed in conditions such as those envisaged in the Question?
§ Mr. ShinwellThe Prime Minister dealt with this matter very fully on 15th March.
§ Mr. Godfrey NicholsonWhen the right hon. Gentleman said that various Ministers were responsible for the application of these methods, did he mean that there is no co-ordination between the various Departments or no overall authority in this connection?
§ Mr. ShinwellWe have full consultation with the appropriate branches.