§ 46. Mr. Jegerasked the Lord Privy Seal whether he is satisfied that there will be no censorship of books and periodicals sent into Spain under the Cultural Convention signed in July last; and whether he will withhold ratification until he receives adequate assurances.
§ Mr. HeathThere is no clause in the Anglo-Spanish Cultural Convention—nor in any other cultural convention to which Her Majesty's Government are a party—whereby books and periodicals sent from this country are exempted from censorship, where such exists. The second part of the Question does not therefore arise.
§ Mr. JegerIs not the right hon. Gentleman aware that Article 2 of the Convention lays it down that each contracting Government shall grant every facility within the limits of its legislation? Is it not well known that the legislation of Fascist Spain is both brutal and repressive? Will he therefore take such steps to get a liberalisation of the legislation of Spain as are open to him within the limits of the Convention?
§ Mr. HeathWe naturally hope that as many books and periodicals as possible will be imported into Spain, but a convention drawn on the lines which the hon. Member has mentioned obviously gives us no reason to protest, providing that it remains within the legislation.
§ Mr. KershawTo what extent are books and periodicals in English allowed into the Soviet Union without censorship?
§ At the end of Questions:—