§ MR. STAVELEY-HILL (Staffordshire, Kingswinford)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty what rule or practice governs communications sent by the Admiralty to the Press; who frames these communications, and who is the responsible authority for them; are they invariably sent to the Press generally, or only to certain newspapers; and, in the latter case, on what principle is the selection made.
§ MR. MCKENNAOfficial communications to the Press, apart from advertisements, are placed in a room set apart for the purpose at the Admiralty, to which all newspaper representatives have access, or in the case of special communications, they are sent under cover to the principal Press agencies and newspapers which have offices in London. Special communications are framed by the Department which deals with the subject matter of the communication, and are issued with the authority of the Secretary of the Admiralty.
§ MR. BELLAIRS (Lynn Regis)Are we to understand that all newspapers 1075 are treated on an equal footing by the Admiralty and that no editors or Press correspondents have special access to any official at the Admiralty?
§ MR. MCKENNAI think my Answer is complete on the subject. I have told the House the full relations of the Admiralty with the Press.
§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILL (Donegal, S.)Are we to take it for granted that the interests of our friend The Times are specially safeguarded? This is specially important.
§ [No Answer was returned.]