§ 83. Mr. ROCHasked the Home Secretary if his attention has been called to the fact that "The Sermon on the Mount," by the present Bishop of Oxford, has been seized by the police at Penarth, in South Wales; whether any person in possession of this work is subject to the penalty of having his premises searched and the book seized; and whether he can issue a list of works of a similar nature which are placed on the index by the Home Office?
Mr. SAMUELInquiry is being made into the subject of this question. When the police make a seizure of publications it necessarily takes some time to examine them and to decide which of them may properly be returned. The publication in question was not on any list issued from the Home Office.
§ Mr. PRINGLEAre we to understand, then, that this book will be returned to the owner?
§ Mr. PRINGLEAre we to understand, then, that an exposition of the Sermon on the Mount requires to be diligently read by the officials of the Home Office before it can be returned to the owner?
Mr. SAMUELNo official of the Home Office has anything to do with the matter. The local police act on their own responsibility.
§ Mr. PRINGLEAre we to understand, then, that an exposition of the New Testament has to be subject to the censorship of the local police?
Mr. SAMUELNo, Sir, the police constables—or rather a superior officer of the police—has the duty /of examining any matter seized, to say whether any prosecution should be taken. I should imagine that if the particular publication is of the kind mentioned that there is not the slightest doubt that it will be promptly returned—if that has not already been done.
§ Sir STEPHEN COLLINSWill the police visit every place of worship to take a note of the sermons preached?
§ Mr. WHITEHOUSECan the right hon. Gentleman give an undertaking, pending his further statement to this House, that the "Sermon on the Mount" will not be destroyed?
§ Mr. HOGGEWill the police constables of the House of Commons remove the copies of the Bible out of the Library?