§ 17. Mr. GINNELLasked the Under-Secretary of State for War who is accountable for the discriminating administration of the Defence of the Realm Act, whereby the "Times" newspaper is allowed to publish with impunity matter held by the Government to be detrimental to this country and helpful to Germany, while promptly suppressing without trial Irish newspapers for publishing, similar or less objectionable matter and for copying matter from English newspapers; and whether he can give any undertaking that the Act will be uniformly and impartially administered in future?
§ Mr. TENNANTFor the administration of the Defence of the Realm Acts His Majesty's Government are of course responsible, and I can give the hon. Gentleman an explicit assurance that the Acts 243 will be impartially administered with reference to all the relevant facts and considerations that are within the cognisance of the Government.
§ Mr. GINNELLIs not the right hon. Gentleman going to explain the discrepancy stated in the question, which is the point?
§ Mr. TENNANTThe hon. Gentleman, I think, should ask that question either of the Home Office or of the responsible Department controlling the Director of Public Prosecutions.
§ Mr. GINNELLCan the right hon. Gentleman say whether the censoring authority in this country recognises republication in Germany as evidence that the matter so republished is helpful to Germany and hurtful to this country; and, if it does, will the right hon. Gentleman explain the discrepancy stated in the question?
§ Mr. SPEAKERPerhaps the hon. Gentleman will kindly hand that question in.
§ Mr. GINNELLIt is on the Paper.