HC Deb 08 October 1946 vol 427 cc30-1
58. Mr. Stokes

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, whether he will arrange for HANSARD to be circulated in all prisoner-of-war camps under British control.

Mr. J. Hynd

Under arrangements already existing, the Control Office distributes to camps in the United Kingdom copies of HANSARD, which report matters of interest to German prisoners of war, such as Debates and Questions about Germany and foreign affairs generally or about the prisoners of war themselves. In addition, copies reporting other Debates are sent by my Department to meet individual requests from camps. Similar arrangements are being made for the Middle East. In the United Kingdom alone, prisoners are housed in over a thousand different camps and units, and a general distribution of all copies of HANSARD would not be practicable, nor would it be a justifiable public expense.

Mr. Stokes

With reference to the last part of the answer, may I ask why not? Surely, what all these fellows are pining for is some, shall I say, harmless reading. It is surely the best way of letting them learn for themselves how our Parliamentary system works, so why not let them all have it?

Mr. Hynd

When there is a request from the prisoners or the camp commandant, HANSARD is regularly supplied as required. We also make arrangements for printing very full reports of all Parliamentary Debates in the prisoner-of-war journal and by this and other means ensure that the prisoners get as much information as it is economic and convenient for them to have.

Mr. Henry Usborne

Is it not invidious that there should be any official selection? If prisoners are to be allowed to have copies of HANSARD, it would seem to be better to let them have them all rather than that there should be any selection.

Mr. Hynd

As I have pointed out, the selection is that of items affecting Germany, foreign affairs generally and the prisoners of war themselves. I think that that is a very fair basis on which to issue HANSARD which may be of direct interest to all prisoners, and, as I have stated, in addition, they can have any HANSARD they require where there is a demand from any particular camp.

Mr. W. Fletcher

Could the Minister arrange to have the verbatim comments of these prisoners collected and circulated to hon. Members of this House?

Mr. Paget

Will the Minister say what authority it is that censors and denies the entry of HANSARD into the British zone of Germany?

Mr. Hynd

There is no such denial or censorship of HANSARD in the British zone of Germany.