§ 64. Mr. KINGasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state on what date did Sir Roderick Jones cease to act as managing director of Reuters, Limited, in order to work at the Ministry of Information; whether he receives any remuneration at the Ministry; and whether he has agreed to drop his management of Reuters for the duration of the War?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWSir Roderick Jones joined the Ministry of Information upon its formation in March last, and from that date the managing directorship of Reuters, Limited, was placed in commission at Reuters. He devotes the whole of his time to the Ministry, and will continue to do so, so long as he retains his appointment. He receives no remuneration.
§ Mr. PRINGLEDoes he receive a remuneration from Reuters?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWI do not know.
§ Mr. PRINGLEHas the Government not inquired into that?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWWhy should it?
§ Mr. S. MacNEILLIs it not a fact that this firm, out of which the managing director has gone straight into the Ministry of Information, have, since he became an official in the Ministry of Information, obtained no less a sum by their cables than £164,000?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWI do not think that is the case. I think that figure referred to sums which were paid before, but, as my hon. Friend the financial Secretary pointed out, Sir Roderick Jones has no say whatever in the payments made to this firm, which are given on the advice of the three gentlemen mentioned by my hon. Friend, one of whom was Colonel Buchan, another was Mr. McMillan, a Scottish counsel, and the third a Member of this House, Major Baker.
§ Mr. S. MacNEILLWhere does public interest end and private interest begin?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWI quite recognise that this is a very important matter, and I am prepared to recognise that, but at present, in time of war, if we are to get expert advice in this or in any other Department, it is almost impossible to get it except in the case of men who in some way or other have interests which may be said to have some connection with the subject.
§ Mr. PRINGLEDoes not the Government recognise that it is better that Sir Roderick Jones should be a salaried official of the Government than a salaried servant of Reuters?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWThe hon. Member does not really understand. It is not only in that case, but in hundreds of others, the men who are giving service to the Government are giving it on conditions which no salary could get. There are many whom no salary could tempt to get their services.
§ Mr. SPEAKERI would point out that there are more than 100 questions on the Paper.