§ 10. Miss Vickersasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why books ordered by two British Service men from the Marriage Guidance Council, namely,Sex in Marriage, The £ s. d. of Marriage,andAll About Your Wedding, were withheld by the General Post Office, Malta, and classed as indecent publications.
§ Mr. Iain MacleodI am informed by the Governor that on the information given it has not been possible to trace these particular cases. Publications of this kind have, however, been detained by the postal authorities in Malta under the provisions of the Post Office Act.
§ Miss VickersWill my right hon. Friend reconsider this decision in view of the fact that people get married much younger in these days? Is it not very desirable that they should have a copy of this type of book? If they cannot have it, may the copies be returned to headquarters and not burnt?
§ Mr. MacleodI am sure that that argument would be right for this country but we must realise the situation—[HON. MEMBERS: "Oh."] With respect, Service men are subject to the territorial law of the country in which they are serving. Everyone must know that in a country like Malta these matters are looked upon very differently from the way in which they are regarded here.
§ Miss VickersIf it were a Muslim country, would they be refused a Bible?
§ Mr. MacleodNo, of course not. This is not a new practice, and it is not a new Act.