§ 14. Mr. Gallacherasked the Minister of Information whether he is aware of great public uneasiness caused at the proposal to set up a Board of Press Censors in this country; and whether this scheme has now been abandoned as detrimental to the best interests of the British people?
Mr. CooperThe answer to the first part of the Question is in the negative. Various tentative proposals for the improvement of the existing system of censorship have been under the consideration of the Government. There have been conversations with some representatives of the Press, but such conversations were confidential and do not admit of discussion at this stage. The answer to the second part of the Question is that no decision has been made as to the nature of any changes that may be made.
§ Mr. GallacherIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the censorship of the Press in France was responsible for a considerable amount of the demoralisation there, and can we obtain an assurance that there will be no attempt of any kind to suppress the rights of the Press?
§ Mr. ShinwellAre we to understand that the right hon. Gentleman has abandoned for the time being the proposals which he submitted to the Newspaper Proprietors Association two or three weeks ago and which, I understand, they asked him to withdraw?
Mr. CooperThe matter is still under consideration. I am in close communication with the Press, and I am not in a position to make any definite statement until consultation has been concluded.
§ Mr. LevyIs it not a fact that very strict censorship ought to be put upon literature which is being distributed throughout the country, particularly of a Communist character?
§ Mr. GallacherIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that it was the suppression of Communists in France which led to the disaster?