asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in view of the existing law regarding literary censorship in relation to the sale of books and publications, he will consider the appointment of a committee having as its object the need of revision and clarification of the law relating to indecency and obscenity in literature?

The answer is in the negative.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman see that the findings of such a committee would be of the greatest help to publishers in matters of this kind?

I think the hon. Gentleman does not appreciate that what he apparently wants is an alteration of the law, and for that purpose he could bring in a Bill here. There is no question of literary censorship, as I have conveyed to the House on previous occasions. The law directs that certain proceedings shall be taken in the event of obscene literature being published.