asked the Minister of Information the number of women employed in censoring the articles of newspaper correspondents for British papers overseas; the salaries paid to them; whether they have had any experience of this type of work; and what are their educational qualifications?

Mr. Cooper:

There are 23 women in the department, which deals with the censoring of articles for British papers overseas. Their salaries are £4 a week or at the rate of £320 a year, according to grade. At least 10 have had relevant previous experience, although only two were censoring in the last war. All the censors in question have had a university education or have exceptional linguistic attainments.

Would it not be better to employ duly qualified people and pay them at an adequate rate?

Mr. Cooper:

It is difficult to define what are duly qualified people, because we do not do this work in peace-time.