§ 2. Mr. Evelyn Kingasked the Postmaster-General why, in the light of an assurance given to the House on 7th February, 1966, that there is no censorship of mail to or from Rhodesia a printed slip appeared on an envelope bearing the postmark 12th October, 1966, and addressed to Rhodesia, which the hon. Member for South Dorset has sent to him, indicating that the Post Office in the United Kingdom had opened the envelope for examination.
§ The Assistant Postmaster-General (Mr. Joseph Slater)This letter was opened for normal Customs examination, to which mail to and from all overseas is liable. I repeat the assurances given to the House on 7th February, 1966–[Vol. 724, c. 31]—and on several subsequent occasions, that in this country there has been and is no censorship to and from Rhodesia.
§ Mr. KingWhatever the purpose, does not the slip state—and I have another with me—that the packet was opened and examined by the Post Office? Would not it have been better, at the time that the Question was asked and answered, to have said that?
§ Mr. SlaterThere has been a continuing misunderstanding about this matter. It began shortly after the illegal declaration of independence, when letters from Rhodesia arriving here bore the censor's stamp and when some people who received those leters in this country assumed that we had applied the stamp.