HC Deb 30 October 1884 vol 293 cc521-4
MR. RAIKES

asked the noble Lord the Patronage Secretary to the Treasury, Whether he accepts the responsibility of a letter dated from 12, Downing Street, and signed C. J. Maude, which appeared in The Morning Post of Tuesday October 28th; whether he can state if the communication respecting a scheme of Redistribution under the consideration of the Government, which recently appeared in The Standard newspaper, was furnished to that journal in recognition of its having afforded "more or less" support to Her Majesty's Government; and, whether he will lay upon the Table a list of those newspapers which, in consequence of their giving "more or less" support to Her Majesty's Government are directly furnished with intelligence from Government Departments, as well as of those to which, in the absence of such support, that favour is not extended? Perhaps, in putting this Question, I may be allowed to ask in addition whether the note which appeared in to-day's Daily News, answering by anticipation a part of my Question before it was put in the House, was also inspired by the noble Lord?

LORD RICHARD GROSVENOR

In reply to the right hon. Gentleman, I beg to say that the note which appeared in The Daily News this morning may have been inspired by me, but it was inspired quite unintentionally, and not with the least intention of its appearing in the newspapers this morning. I do not think, however, its appearance will be any detriment to the right hon. Gentleman. In reply to the Question which appears on the Paper, I have to say that the letter which appeared in The Morning Post of Tuesday, October 28, was written by my direction. With regard to the second paragraph of the Question, I beg to state that the communication referred to was not furnished to The Standard by any Member of Her Majesty's Government, and I must refer the right hon. Gentleman to the answer given by the Prime Minister on the 24th instant, in which it was stated that the Solicitor to the Treasury had been directed to investigate the means by which the Redistribution scheme was furnished to The Standard. I do not think it would be of advantage to the Public Service to lay on the Table such, a list as the right hon. Gentleman refers to. In saying this, I am only following long - established custom pursued by successive Governments, without distinction of Party, in exercising discretion as to the newspapers to which communications of intelligence are made.

MR. RAIKES

I beg further to ask the noble Lord, arising out of his answer, whether he intends in future, in furnishing intelligence to the public Press, to adhere to the principle laid down in the letter of Mr. Maude, of which he accepts the responsibility?

LORD RICHARD GROSVENOR

Yes, Sir; I see no reason why there should be any departure from it.

SIR H. DRUMMOND WOLFF

I wish to ask the noble Lord whether, when he communicates pieces of information to the different Associations—namely, the Press Association and the Central News—it is the habit of the Government to prohibit those Associations furnishing this news to The Morning Post, which is a subscriber to one of the Associations?

LORD RICHARD GROSVENOR

I am not aware that the Government has any power to prohibit these Associations giving any news to any of their subscribers.

SIR H. DRUMMOND WOLFF

But my Question is, whether the Government, in communicating news to either of these Associations, lays down a condition that it shall not be supplied to The Morning Post? I have in my hand some correspondence which has passed between the Press Association and The Morning Post which points to the probability of that being the fact.

LORD RICHARD GROSVENOR

There are conditions made with the Associations. In those conditions The Morning Post, which seems to have many champions in this House, is certainly not specifically mentioned. They are only general conditions laid down for the convenience of the Public Service.

LORD RANDOLPH CHURCHILL

I wish to ask the noble Lord whether he knows of any other newspapers in the Metropolis which are placed by the Government in the same category as The Morning Post?

LORD RICHARD GROSVENOR

There are general conditions laid down, and they may include several newspapers, but none are specifically mentioned.

MR. J. LOWTHER

Will the noble Lord state what those conditions are?

MR. T. P. O'CONNOR

I should like to ask the noble Lord, whether he is not aware that news is the stock-in-trade of newspapers, and that for the purpose of acquiring this stock-in-trade newspapers are in the habit of spending hundreds and sometimes thousands of pounds in a day; whether it does not follow, in the opinion of the noble Lord, that the Government, in supplying this stock-in-trade in the shape of news to newspapers, is making the supply of that news dependent on the tone of their editorials towards the Government, and is thereby giving a pecuniary consideration to the Press of the country in favour of supporting the existing Administration; and I would further ask whether he is aware that the distribution of advertisements to newspapers, which are the principal source of income to newspapers, is not also regulated—at least in Ireland—by the tone of the editorials of those newspapers?

[No reply.]