§ 35. Sir P. Hurdasked the Home Secretary whether, before contemplating State interference with the freedom of the Press, he will invite representative organisations of the newspaper profession to discuss with him the best means of controlling irresponsible members in the general national interest, as is done by representative organisations in the legal, architectural and other professions?
§ Mr. H. MorrisonIf some body representative of the newspaper profession, including newspaper proprietors and the two organisations of journalists, were established by the profession for the purpose of ensuring the maintenance of a 2142 proper sense of responsibility in the Press and control over irresponsible newspapers and journalists, I have no doubt that such a body could perform a valuable service, especially in time of war. The creation of such a body would be a matter for the profession itself, but if there is any way in which the Government could be helpful, any request would certainly be considered most sympathetically.