§ 55. Mr. ASHLEYasked the Prime Minister whether under the Defence of the Realm Regulations no Government Department is allowed to have photographs taken of buildings being erected by that Department without permission of the War Office; whether early this spring it took the Admiralty nearly five weeks to secure such permission from the War Office; that this month a fine of £5 was imposed on a photographer for a breach of these Regulations who had been instructed by the Minister of Munitions to photograph a factory under his Department in Flintshire; and why a Government Department is not considered sufficiently responsible to be permitted to issue such permits in matters connected with its own activities?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI have ascertained from the Departments concerned that they have no complaint to make of the existing arrangements, and I can assure my hon. Friend that their representatives in the Government are fully capable of looking after their interests.
§ Mr. ASHLEYDoes the right hon. Gentleman deny that there is considerable delay in getting this permission from the War Office?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe Departments do not complain.