§ 20. Mr. Sorensenasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs why books or literature even of a non-political character including editions of Goethe and music by Bach, Beethoven and Mozart are prohibited in the British zone of Germany if published in Leipzig; and, in view of the need of this class of literature and the fact that literature published in the British zone can be and is delivered in the Russian zone, whether steps will be taken to remove the ban so far as non-political literature and publications are concerned.
§ Mr. BevinUnder an order of last January, the Military Government is in fact empowered to authorise the importation of printed matter from the Soviet zone, and any distributor wishing to import a particular publication may apply to the Regional Commissioner for permission.
§ Mr. SorensenIs my right hon. Friend aware that permission has been refused in such instances, and could he not make special inquiries to see whether literature of this kind, which is entirely non-political, could not be made available to the British zone?
§ Mr. SorensenIf I can assure the right hon. Gentleman that it does, will he make inquiries?
§ Mr. John FosterIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is very often a question of breach of copyright between the Soviet zone and the British zone, and that, as works have sometimes been pirated, permission is refused on that ground?