§ Sir R. Rossasked the Minister of Labour who are the members of the Joint War Office and Ministry of Labour Release Committee; and how many of them have first-hand knowledge of conditions in Northern Ireland.
§ Mr. BevinThe Joint Release Committee is not a formally constituted body. Informal meetings are held twice weekly between responsible officers of the War Office and my Department who deal with applications for release from the Army. It has been found by experience that this is the most convenient procedure when it 837W is necessary to weigh the industrial aspects of an application against military requirements. Every application for release is sponsored by the Government Department concerned with the civilian work for which the member of the Forces is required, and any necessary information regarding an application affecting Northern Ireland would be provided by the Department supporting the application.