HC Deb 26 February 1919 vol 112 cc1734-5
48. Mr. HOGGE

asked the Prime Minister whether the verbatim account of his interview with the Miners' Federation at Downing Street was published as an advertisement; whether he can state the amount expended; on what Estimate it will appear; and whether the Government propose to extend this system of publicity in order to secure greater accuracy for Parliamentary and cognate proceedings?

Mr. BONAR LAW (Leader of the House)

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. In the very exceptional circumstances of the case, the Government considered that the widest possible publicity should be given to the proceedings at the interview between the Prime Minister and the Executive of the Miners' Federation on Thursday last. The approximate cost was £4,450, and this sum will be charged against the Vote for the Ministry of Labour.

Mr. HOGGE

Would not the reporters of all the principal newspapers have attended by invitation, and have reported the proceedings for nothing?

Mr. BONAR LAW

As a general rule that is the preferable way, but it was obvious to us that it was better to have this meeting at 10, Downing Street, in the Prime Minister's own room, where it would have been very inconvenient to make such arrangements.

Mr. DEVLIN

May I ask whether all the newspapers had an opportunity of attending to report, or whether it was only a specified number of Coalition newspapers supporting the Government that got this advantage?

Mr. BONAR LAW

No, that was certainly not the case. If the hon. Gentleman has seen the report, he will have seen that the report was in full, giving everything said by everybody at the meeting. It is obvious that if it had been desired to give only the Government side, it would not have been necessary to take these precautions; but we wished every side to have the fullest publicity.

Mr. DEVLIN

If that be so, why were not all the newspapers invited, instead of some being given an advantage over others, seeing that these reports were paid for out of the public funds?

Mr. BONAR LAW

There was no question of giving an advantage. The report was sent to the papers which it was believed would give it the widest publicity among every section of the public.