HC Deb 04 February 1941 vol 368 c807W
Mr. Windsor

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware of the lack of care taken with service documents sent through the post in open envelopes; and what action he proposes to take to stop this kind of happening in future?

Captain Margesson

The document to which my hon. Friend refers is a summary of lectures given at the Osterley Park Training School for the Home Guard before it was taken over by the War Office. The pamphlet was in preparation when the change took place, and the War Office and the Stationery Office then assumed responsibility for editing and printing it. The pamphlet was not secret, but, like many other official documents of a similar kind, was marked as not to be published. Part of the arrangement was that a number of copies should be supplied to the firm which was originally concerned, for distribution to members of the Home Guard who had attended the lectures and had ordered and paid for the pamphlet. I understand that these copies were sent out by the firm in open envelopes.