HC Deb 10 October 1939 vol 352 cc195-6W
Captain Plugge

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Information whether his attention has been called to the reproduction of German broadcasts containing libellous abuse of British public men; whether there is any reason why statements of this kind should be published; and, in view of the fact that such statements could not be made in peacetime, whether he will cause the newspapers to avoid reproducing purely personal attacks of this nature?

Sir E. Grigg

Action such as my hon. Friend suggests would involve a degree of interference with the freedom of the Press which would be entirely contrary to the policy of the Ministry. I do not think in any case that the character of British public men is likely to suffer from any abuse which German broadcasters may aim at them.