§ 41. Mr. Glenvil Hallasked the Minister of Information whether his attention has been called to a recent article in a Sunday newspaper, of which he has been informed, in which information likely to be of use to the enemy was disclosed; and whether this disclosure took place with the approval of his Department?
§ The Minister of Information (Mr. Duff Cooper)The answer to the first part of the Question is in the affirmative. The article to which the hon. Member refers was not submitted to censorship before publication, nor was it approved in any way by the Ministry of Information.
§ Mr. HallCannot something be done to stop this sort of thing? Ordinary naval journalists were warned definitely not to use this information, and it has been used, and no action has been taken against the person or paper which used it.
§ Mr. CooperI have. written to the editor of the paper asking for his explanation, and I am waiting his reply before deciding what action to take.
§ Mr. Garro JonesHas not the right hon. Gentleman repeatedly assured the House that the system of voluntary censorship is working satisfactorily, and are there not repeated instances in which this system has not worked?
§ Mr. CooperI think the voluntary system is the best, but no system of censorship will work perfectly.