HC Deb 07 December 1939 vol 355 cc807-8
38. Mr. Levy

asked the Home Secretary on what grounds the Director-General of Press censorship and news has offered his resignation; whether he has complete authority over the censorship of news; to what extent he is under the control of the Defence Departments; and, if the censorship is not under one central control, will he take steps to establish such control?

Sir J. Anderson

As regards the first part of the question, Sir Walter Monckton is not resigning his appointment. As regards the latter part of the question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the statement made by the Prime Minister on 3rd October, namely, that, The responsibility for censorship must rest, like the responsibility for news and its distribution, upon the Departments which are concerned with the subject matter."—[OFFICIAL REPORT, 3rd October, 1939; col. 1861, Vol. 351.]

Mr. Noel-Baker

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether difficulties have arisen between the head of the Censorship Department, and the various Ministers to whom he is responsible?

Sir J. Anderson

Difficulties are bound to arise from time to time, for the simple reason that there is a certain conflict between the natural desire of the public and the Press for what is, I believe, called "hot news," and the interest of the Service Departments in keeping from the enemy anything that might be of value to him. The best method of overcoming those difficulties, which arose in just the same degree during the last war, is, I believe, essentially a matter of machinery. I am in discussion at the moment with the Director-General and with the Service Departments on the matter.

Mr. Noel-Baker

Do not difficulties arise largely because the Director-General is responsible to a number of different Ministers; and should not the public interest in the publication of news be represented by giving back to the Minister of Information the responsibility which it was originally intended to give him?

58. Mr. Mander

asked the Home Secretary whether he is now able to state the future of the Press and Censorship Department under Sir Walter Monckton?

Sir J. Anderson

I would refer to the reply given to an earlier question by the hon. Member for the Elland Division (Mr. Levy).

Mr. Mander

Did the right hon. Gentleman not say last week that he had received and was considering a report on this matter and that he proposed to take action? Could he say when?

Sir J. Anderson

If the hon. Member is referring to the question of organisation and staffing of the Department, I have received a report and in the last few days I have been going into the matter in detail, and I hope to deal with it in the course of the next few days.

Mr. Mander

Does that mean that a public statement will be made about it?

Sir J. Anderson

Certainly, if a question is put down.