§ 30. Commander BELLAIRSasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether letters addressed to Members at the House of Commons are subjected to censorship; and whether the procedure is adopted for conclusive reasons?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the ADMIRALTY (Dr. Macnamara)I must refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the answer which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Somerset, North, on 8th December, to the effect that under Admiralty Orders, letters, whether written by officers or men, are censored on board ship by an officer specially appointed for the purpose. The censorship applies to all letters, to whomsoever they may be written.
§ Commander BELLAIRSCan the right hon. Gentleman say why, in precisely similar circumstances, the War Office and the Admiralty adopt a different procedure?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAI do not think that is a question which should be addressed to me.
§ Mr. ASHLEYOn what grounds does the Admiralty censor letters addressed to hon. Members of this House at the Palace of Westminster?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAI have said it is a Regulation that on board ship all letters are censored to whomsoever they are sent. That rule has not been altered, so far as I know.