§ 18. Mr. THURTLEasked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether or not there is any system of censoring correspondence sent from this country to India and from India to this country?
§ Earl WINTERTONUnder Section 26 of the Indian Post Office Act, 1898, the Governor-General in Council, or an officer authorised by him, or a Local Government, may on the occurrence of a public emergency or in the interest of the public safety or tranquillity, direct the interception or detention of any postal article or class or description of postal articles.
§ Mr. THURTLEWill the Noble Lord reply to the other part of the question; and may I ask whether letters sent to this country from India are censored here?
§ Earl WINTERTONI have nothing to do with any censorship that takes place here. As far as I know, there is none. Perhaps the hon. Member will put his question to the Postmaster-General. I am dealing with a matter which has long been legal in India in regard to letters.
§ Mr. T. WILLIAMSAre we to understand that even when there are no disturbances, in normal peace times, it is permissible to censor correspondence from this country to India?
§ Earl WINTERTONYes, Sir, under an Act which has been in existence for 20 years.