§ 4. Mr. Hollisasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that Her Majesty's Government's representative at the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation on 22nd November, 1950, gave his support to the international agreement for the removal of restrictions on the import of books, that British representatives of all Parties gave their support on 30th September, 1952, to the recommendation of the Assembly of the Council of Europe that this agreement be ratified, that on 22nd December, 1952, the British representative on the Committee of Ministers called on all States which had not ratified that agreement to ratify with the minimum of delay; and whether he will therefore publish the ratification of the agreement at the earliest possible moment.
§ The Minister of State, Board of Trade (Mr. Heathcoat Amory)Yes, Sir; I am aware of the support which has been forthcoming from the United Kingdom for the international Agreement on the Importation of Educational, Scientific and Cultural Materials, of November, 1950. The text, incorporating a statement that Her Majesty's Government have ratified the Agreement, will be published shortly as a Command Paper in the Treaty Series.
§ Mr. HollisWhile that answer will give great satisfaction as far as it goes, is my right hon. Friend not aware that it is somewhat of a mystery why there has been this inordinate delay between ratification and publication of ratification, and that this delay has given what appears to be quite unnecessary opportunity to the critics of this country to blaspheme?
Mr. AmoryI would remind my hon. Friend that the announcement of ratification by Her Majesty's Government was published in the Board of Trade Journal in April, ratification having taken place in March. It was also published in part of the Press at the same time.
§ Mr. Ernest DaviesHas Spain yet ratified the agreement and lifted the ban on the import of British goods and periodicals?