§ 56. Mr. R. J. Russellasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether his attention has been called to the number of obscene publications which are coming into this country from the United States of America and are being sold openly; whether he is aware that shopkeepers in Birmingham and Wolverhampton have lately been summoned for exposing them for sale, when magistrates ordered their confiscation and destruction; and whether he will make representations to the Customs Department to prevent the entry of such publications at the port of arrival?
§ Captain WallaceI am aware of the prosecutions referred to and of the fact that imported literature of an undesirable character is being sold in this country. Steps are, and will continue to be, taken by the Customs Department to check the importation of such publications wherever possible.