§ 41. Mr. Keelingasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that the rule of the Prison Commissioners that prisoners' notebooks other than those issued for educational purposes must not be taken away on discharge will prevent the publication of any book written in gaol; and whether he will modify the rule so as to allow original compositions to be taken away subject to censorship.
§ Mr. EdeThe question whether the rule relating to this matter should be amended is at present under consideration.
§ Mr. KeelingIs the Home Secretary aware that if this rule had been enforced in Bunyan's time "Pilgrim's Progress" might never have been published?
§ Mr. EdeThere were times in my life when I was attending Sunday school when I would have thought that a very desirable thing.
Mr. Wilson HarrisIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that I have only today received a letter from one of his Parkhurst constituents offering no fewer than nine articles for publication? Must I wait for the gentleman's release before taking advantage of this unique opportunity?
§ Mr. GallacherIs the Minister aware that one of his predecessors informed me in answer to a question I raised about a book I wrote in Wandsworth, that I could not get it out because it would mean I would have been earning money and, therefore, would have had a privilege 1079 over all other prisoners? Now that other prisoners are allowed to earn money, is it not possible to waive this rule?
§ Mr. Emrys HughesIs the Minister aware that one of the most notable Welsh poets recently published 100 sonnets written in prison? Were Mr. Nicholas's poems suppressed by the prison governor?