HC Deb 12 October 1939 vol 352 cc538-9W
Mr. R. Morģan

asked the Secretary of State for War what is the present staff employed in the postal and telegraph censorship; and what is the approximate delay involved in censoring outgoing letters and telegrams, respectively?

Sir V. Warrender

The staff in question at present numbers 1,479.

The normal delay of letters is nine hours. The delay at peak periods has never exceeded 36 hours. The delay of telegrams varies from a few minutes to one hour at peak periods.

Delays will be diminished as the staff increases.

Mr. Touche

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the desirability of the widest circulation abroad of the Blue Book concerning the diplomatic events leading to the outbreak of hostilities, he would consider amending the regulations so that individuals who wish to send this book to neutrals abroad could do so by ordering copies direct for export from the Stationery Office?

Sir V. Warrender

There is nothing in the regulations to prevent any individual from sending copies of the Blue Book to neutrals abroad if they are ordered from His Majesty's Stationery Office or any other big publishing or exporting firm which has a permit for export.