§ 'Sir T. Mooreasked the Secretary of State for Scotland, in view of the fact that censorship in this country was abolished several weeks ago, for what reason it is still ruled that Scottish private legislation has to be submitted to censorship at the Ministry of Information before publication; and whether steps will be taken to abolish this censorship forthwith.
Mr. FraserA General Order made in November, 1942, by the two Chairmen and the Secretary of State under the Private Legislation Procedure (Scotland) Act, 1936, requires the submission to the Minister of Information, 21 days before the normal date of publication, of all notices relating to proposed provisional orders under the Act. The General Order, which is in similar terms to a Sessional Order made by this House during the war period, will cease to have effect in February next on the expiry of the Emergency Powers (Defence) Act, 1939. As no further notices of the kind affected by the General Order can be given before that date, the Order has in practice already ceased to operate.