§ 51. Mr. G. FABERasked the Prime Minister whether Lord Northcliffe, Lord Rothermere, and Lord Beaverbrook, in their respective official capacities, now have, or will be enabled to have, access to the daily distribution of official telegrams from foreign countries and from the British Dominions?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWThe Secretary of State for the Air Force is in precisely the same position as the other Secretaries of State. The Minister of Propaganda receives the information which has hitherto been supplied to the Department of Information. As Lord Northcliffe is not a Minister, the question does not arise in his case.
§ Mr. FABERHave Lord Northcliffe and Lord Beaverbrook access to information in their capacities other than official?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWCertainly not; and. if my hon. Friend suggests that members of the Government would use for their own purposes information obtained in that way, then clearly they ought not to be members of the Government.
§ Mr. FABERWould the right hon. Gentleman be good enough to say that the answer he has given to the House applies to confidential naval and military telegrams?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWMost certainly; and the answer that I have given implies this also, that the Prime Minister would have never appointed these Gentlemen if he had thought that they were capable of making use of the information in the way suggested.
§ Colonel C. LOWTHERIs there the slightest reason for supposing that these Gentlemen should not be entrusted with matters of a confidential nature?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWIt is quite obvious, in the opinion of those who were responsible for their appointment, that they are quite incapable of using this information in the way suggested.
§ Mr. BILLINGIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the publication of confidential communiqués affect the money markets of the world, and does he consider, under those circumstances, that any person who is directly interested in company promoting or anything else should be given this information?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWThe answer that I have given applies to that also. It is clearly a case where, If those responsible for the appointments took the view which is taken by the hon. Gentleman, that they would never have received the appointments.
§ Mr. LYNCHMay I ask if it would not be as well to supply Lord Northcliffe with all the information possible, seeing how much the Government depend upon him for guidance?
Mr. CHANCELLORIs the exclusive publication of information which has been refused by the Censor a qualification for a post in this Ministry?
§ Mr. BILLINGWill the right hon. Gentleman say when the House will have an opportunity of debating the matter?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWThat question does not arise.