§ 3. Mr. G. LOCKER-LAMPSONasked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether it is proposed to terminate the News Department, as proposed by the Geddes Committee?
Mr. HARMSWORTHIn view of the importance of the work of the News Department, it has been decided that it ought in the public interest to be retained, but considerable economies are being effected in its administration.
§ Mr. LOCKER-LAMPSONIs it not the fact that this was a Department set up for the purposes of the War, and, seeing that number of our diplomatic representatives has very largely increased, why is it necessary to continue that Department?
Mr. HARMSWORTHIt represents the relics of the old Ministry of Information and it is considered that we should retain what remains of it.
§ Mr. HURDWould it not greatly increase the usefulness and efficiency of this Department if the members of it were nominated by the Newspaper Proprietors' Association or some other body entirely divorced from the Government?
Mr. HARMSWORTHNo, I do not agree. I think the gentlemen serving the Department are extremely efficient.
§ Colonel ASHLEYWhy is this Department necessary in 1922, when it was not wanted before the War?
§ Sir HARRY BRITTAINWhat is the strength of the staff of the Department?
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYOn a point of Order. Are hon. Members who represent Ulster constituencies permitted to interfere in our affairs in this country?
§ Mr. SPEAKERCertainly, as long as they are Members of the House. The details of this matter can be discussed on the Estimate.
§ 4. Mr. LOCKER-LAMPSONasked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether it is proposed to reduce the expenditure on telegrams, which on the revised Estimate is four times the pre-War expenditure?
Mr. HARMSWORTHEvery effort is made, and will continue to be made, to reduce the cost of telegrams, and, if possible, to keep it within the limit suggested by the Committee on National Expenditure. But the number of telegrams necessarily depends on the political situation in the world, and the amount of urgent diplomatic business to be done at any given time. It must also be borne in mind that the Foreign Office despatch telegrams abroad on behalf of other Government Departments over which they have no control, and that the cost of these telegrams also falls on the Diplomatic and Consular Vote.
§ 5. Mr. LOCKER-LAMPSONasked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how many persons are employed on the special staff in ciphering and deciphering messages and carrying despatches abroad?
Mr. HARMSWORTHThe number employed is 30, of whom 15 are permanent, but non-pensionable, and 15 temporary. It is hoped to make some reduction in the temporary staff of the Department concerned in the course of the coming financial year.
§ Mr. LOCKER-LAMPSONIs it not the fact that, before the War, instead of 30 there were only six King's Messengers, and that the whole of the cipher work was done by the ordinary staff of the Department?