HC Deb 20 December 1944 vol 406 cc1764-5
33. Mr. Ivor Thomas

asked the Minister of Information whether he will give instructions that copies of HANSARD, sent by hon. Members to addresses oversea through the postal service, are not to be stopped by the censorship.

Mr. Bracken

It is no function of the censorship to prevent the despatch of HANSARD to addresses overseas. But there are certain countries to which printed documents can only be sent if they are despatched through booksellers, publishers or stationers who hold permits. These permits are freely granted. I understand that the Sale Office will always despatch copies of HANSARD overseas on behalf of hon. Members who ask them to do so.

Professor Savory

Is it the British censor or the Eire censor who stops HANSARD from reaching Southern Ireland?

Mr. Bracken

I shall have to make inquiries into the hon. Gentleman's question.

Mr. I. Thomas

Could my right hon. Friend say which are the countries—if the list is not very long—especially as Form P.C.177 says that permits shall be granted to private individuals only in very exceptional circumstances?

Mr. Bracken

Perhaps the hon. Gentleman will put his question down, and I will give him some answer about Form P.C.177.

Lieut.-Commander Hutchison

Will my right hon. Friend make it quite clear that HANSARD can always be sent to men in the Forces serving overseas?

Mr. Bracken

I hope soon to be able to make a statement about the very entangling difficulties of censorship, but I will look into the hon. and gallant Gentleman's question.