§ 6. Colonel APPLINasked the Home Secretary whether permission was sought by the privileged press before printing and publishing the Book of Common Prayer of 1662 with the additions and deviations proposed in 1928; and, if not, what steps he proposes to take in view of the copyright of the Crown in the Book of Common Prayer?
§ Sir V. HENDERSONNo request has been made by the privileged press to print and publish the Book referred to by my hon. and gallant Friend. So far as the second part of the question is concerned, I fully appreciate that many difficult questions may be raised by the publication of this Book. My right hon. Friend is not, however, aware of any ground on which it could be suggested that the copyright of the Crown in respect of the Book of Common Prayer of 1662 has been infringed by the printing and publication by the privileged press of that book in the form indicated in the question.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYCan the hon. and gallant Member say whether his right hon. Friend has, in fact, any jurisdiction over the publication of this book, provided that it does not break the law against obscenity—that is the only jurisdiction he has—and provided also that it is made perfectly clear that the book does not supersede the Book of Common Prayer of 1662?
§ Sir V. HENDERSONIf the hon. and gallant Member wishes to obtain an answer on that point, he had better put it on the Paper. It is a legal point which I cannot answer.
Lieut.-Commander KENWOJLTHYWhen I mentioned the question obscenity, I meant that that was the only jurisdiction which the Home Secretary has over the publication of this book.
§ Sir V. HENDERSONIt is a legal question.