§ 32. Professor Savoryasked the President of the Board of Trade why an invitation dated 17th March, of which he has been sent the original, was forwarded by his Department to the Coalisland Weaving Company of Coalisland, County Tyrone, marked Eire and in an envelope bearing the address Coalisland, County Tyrone, Irish Republic; and what steps he proposes to take in future to prevent this confusion between Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic by his Department.
Mr. H. WilsonThe invitation to visit the British Industries Fair was sent to the company as part of a distribution of 250,000 invitations to buyers in the United Kingdom and overseas. The names and addresses of those invited are supplied in the main by exhibitors at the Fair. In the present instance the incorrect address was given in an exhibitors' list and the error was overlooked in my Department. This is an isolated case but most regrettable. I can assure the hon. Member that effective steps are being taken to 553 prevent a repetition. A suitable letter of apology is being addressed to the firm concerned.
§ Professor SavoryDoes the right hon. Gentleman realise that one cannot wound more deeply the feelings of these loyal people than by confounding them with the Republicans—Republicans who, during the war, maintained German and Italian legations on their soil as centres of espionage?
§ Mr. SpeakerWe cannot fight those battles now.