§ 39. Sir C. Taylorasked the Attorney-General whether the Director of Public Prosecutions has decided to take criminal 398 proceedings against the printers, publishers and distributors of the book handed to the Solicitor-General by the hon. Member for Eastbourne.
§ The Attorney-GeneralThe Director of Public Prosecutions, after consultation with the Law Officers, has decided not to take criminal proceedings in respect of this book. He is not satisfied that a court would find that the effect of the book, unpleasant as it is, if taken as a whole, would tend to deprave and corrupt persons who are likely to read it, or that a defence that publication was for the public good on the grounds that it is in the interests of literature would fail. It would be deplorable if, as a result of publicity given to this book in the course of an unsuccessful prosecution, it was to become a best seller.
§ Sir C. TaylorI should certainly not mention the name of this book—[HON. MEMBERS: "Why not?"]—but in view of the very unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I beg to give notice that, without mentioning the name of the book, I shall raise the matter on the Adjournment at the earliest possible date.