§ Mr. Kilfedderasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether it is a condition of employment by the Northern Ireland Civil Service, or of any statutory body established in the reorganisation of local government or of any other statutory body for which he is responsible, to employ only persons who are British subjects.
§ Mr. MasonOnly British subjects may be employed in the Northern Ireland Civil Service unless in exceptional circumstances the Civil Service Commissioners for Northern Ireland decide that it is in the interest of the public service to grant exemption from this requirement. In the Police Authority and Police Complaints Board and as clerks or assistant clerks to district councils only British subjects may be employed. No such condition applies to employment in other statutory bodies in Northern Ireland, including those established in the reorganisation of local government.
§ Mr. Kilfedderasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether it is a condition precedent to appointment as chairman or member of any body established as a consequence of the reorganisation of local government, or of any body established by recent industrial relations legislation, that the person appointed should be a British subject; or whether any such appointees are not British subjects.
§ Mr. MasonIt is not a condition precedent to appointment as chairman or a member of the bodies referred to in the Question that a person appointed should be a British subject. I am, therefore, unable to say whether any of the persons so appointed are not British subjects.