§ 63. Mr. RHYS DAVIESasked the Home Secretary whether he will consider introducing legislation to prevent the printing of portraits of Their Majesties on political propaganda pub lications?
§ Sir J. GILMOURNo, Sir.
§ Mr. DAVIESHas the attention of the right hon. Gentleman been called to a publication which is issued monthly by a local joint coordinating committee of the Conservative party, the Liberal party and the Labour group representing the Government, in which these portraits are reproduced each month, and does he think that that is a very desirable thing to do?
§ Sir J. GILMOURThis is not a matter which concerns the Government and I have no very detailed information on the subject. I believe it was confined to one issue, and no doubt that was largely be cause of the Jubileespirit abroad. But it was an indiscretion no doubt.
§ Mr. DAVIESMay we take it, there fore, that, although the right hon. Gentleman is speaking today as a Cabinet Minister, as an hon. Gentleman he will tell the responsible party to stop this sort of thing?
§ Mr. T. WILLIAMSIf the Government are unwilling to introduce legislation to 1138 prohibit such use of these portraits, can not the right hon. Gentleman and the Prime Minister and the Government as a whole discountenance such unworthy political methods?
§ Sir J. GILMOURThis has really nothing to do with the Government, and all I say is that it is an indiscretion for any one to use these portraits.
§ Mr. BUCHANANIs it not a fact that all political parties today are competing in making use of the Jubilee?