§ 25. Squadron-Leader Erringtonasked the Minister of Information whether he is aware that a letter posted from North Wales to the hon. Member for Bootle at a Royal Air Force station has been opened and presumably censored; and whether it is the practice of his Department to open internal letters addressed to Members of Parliament who are serving officers?
§ Mr. BrackenThis letter was presumably contained in mails posted in a particular area which had been selected for examination as an operational security measure. If, however, my hon. and gallant Friend would like me to make further inquiry into the examination of this particular letter, I shall be happy to do so on receipt of the envelope.
§ Squadron-Leader ErringtonIs the Minister prepared to exempt letters to Members of Parliament from censorship?
§ Mr. BrackenI really do not exercise any personal discretion, but I will certainly bring that point to the attention of the chief postal censor.
§ Mr. Garro JonesDoes not the Minister think that his Ministerial duties require him to take a more definite attitude on this important question? May I ask him explicity whether he favours the censoring of letters addressed by members of the Services to Members of Parliament?
§ Mr. BrackenNo, Sir, I do not favour the censoring of letters addressed by members of the Services to Members of Parliament, but this censorship covers a very large field, and I should be spending a large part of my lime in Bermuda and other attractive spots if I were to give my time personally to these matters.
§ Professor SavoryIs the Minister aware that letters sent from Ireland to Members of Parliament are delayed for five or six days?