§ 10. Mr. KIRKWOOD (for Mr. JOHNSTON)asked the Home Secretary whether he sanctioned the publication in the Press of confidential official information regarding the careers of the two convicted prisoners, Browne and Kennedy: and, if not, whether he will take steps to prohibit the issue of such information in future?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSI have sanctioned nothing of the kind. Such information as has appeared in the Press is in no sense confidential, and I have no authority either to sanction or prohibit its publication.
§ Mr. KIRKWOODDoes not the right hon. Gentleman think that it would be in the interest of public morals that publications such as this should be prohibited? Why should we publish what has happened to men when we are about 1915 to take their lives? They are to pay the full penalty, and why should we go back into their history in this way?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSI have no authority in the matter at all. It would need an Act of Parliament to prevent a publication of that kind.
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSI am not at all sure that I should.
§ Mr. GARDNERDoes the right hon. Gentleman mean that the statement in yesterday's papers about one of the men attempting suicide was not authorised by his Department?