HC Deb 10 February 1944 vol 396 cc1889-90
28. Mr. Stokes

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the regulations restricting letters written by persons detained under Regulation 18B to two a week can now be amended so as to admit of their writing a greater number provided it is done at their own expense.

Mr. H. Morrison

The facilities are the same both for persons detained under this Regulation and for aliens who are interned. Camp commanders have discretion to allow additional and longer letters for special purposes and this discretion is exercised liberally. Letters to Members of Parliament, Government Departments and Advisory Committees are allowed in addition to the two weekly letters and are not limited as to length. One of the considerations to be kept in mind is that any increase in the number of personal letters permitted would throw additional labour on the censorship staff, and I do not think the existing facilities are inadequate.

Mr. Stokes

May I ask my right hon. Friend to reconsider his decision, in view of the fact that there are so many fewer people detained under this Regulation, and that it is really punitive to prevent them from writing more than two letters a week? There have been complaints, as my right hon. Friend knows.

Mr. Morrison

I cannot see that there is any great grievance. As I have indicated, we do allow letters in special cases, and there is great freedom in writing to Members of Parliament, the Advisory Committees and so on. In these circumstances, I do not think that the rule is unreasonable.

Mr. Stokes

If the right hon. Gentleman were detained under Regulation 18B, would he consider it fair not to be able to write more than two letters a week?

Sir H. Williams

Why have certain camp commandants told these people that they must not typewrite letters, but must write them by hand? As the main burden falls on Members of Parliament, will not the right hon. Gentleman give instructions for that instruction to be withdrawn?

Mr. Morrison

Perhaps my hon. Friend will give me particulars, when I will be glad to look into that point.

Sir H. Williams

Is not the right hon. Gentleman aware that I have already sent him two lots?