§ 42. Mr. PRINGLEasked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been called to the fact that "Pearson's Weekly" newspaper is advertising an announcement that the Minister of Pensions has agreed to deal" specially with points raised by readers of that paper: and, if so, whether it is with the sanction of the Cabinet that the Minister of Pensions has placed his services at the disposal of this newspaper to the exclusion of all others?
§ Mr. BARNESThe answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. The second part does not, therefore, arise.
§ Mr. PRINGLEHow does the right hon. Gentleman account for the statement appearing in this paper that he would deal with all applications from readers of that paper?
§ Mr. BARNESI can only say that so far as I understood the question of the hon. Gentleman was whether any special arrangement was made with this paper to the exclusion of other papers. That is not true. Therefore the Prime Minister could not possibly have seen it or heard it.
§ Mr. PRINGLEIs it accurate that the Minister for Pensions had agreed with that particular newspaper to deal with the complaints of the readers of that newspaper?
§ Mr. BARNESI have nothing further to add to the answer I have already given.
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe Minister is not responsible for what appears in the newspapers.
§ Mr. PRINGLEOh, yes! [HON MEMBERS: "No, no!"]