§ Lord BROCKWAYMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will restrict the circulation of publications which make available to anti-social individuals and organisations advice on the easy production of incendiary devices and bombs.
§ Lord WELLS-PESTELLMy Lords, the publishers of a book written in such a way as to incite to crime are liable to prosecution. My right honourable friend the Home Secretary would be reluctant to contemplate taking powers by way of censorship of publications unless he were persuaded that such measures would make an effective practical contribution to the prevention of terrorism.
§ Lord BROCKWAYMy Lords, is my noble friend aware that at a recent book fair organised by the literature department of the National Party, books were on sale which were composed of United States Army manuals entitled, Unconventional Warfare: Devices and Techniques? The books included information on booby traps, incendiary devices and particulars of how to make various explosives. In view of this fact, while one does not want censorship, is it not dangerous that such books should be available?
§ Lord WELLS-PESTELLMy Lords, I am not aware of the publications to which 698 my noble friend referred, but it is a fact that, in normal technical books on explosives and explosive techniques, all the available information is already available. In the scientific world there is little that is not available in publication, and perhaps that is as it should be.