§ 32. Captain WEDGWOOD BENNasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what duties are discharged by the Admiralty, War Office, Air Ministry, and Press Committee; who are the members of the Committee; what are the annual charges of the same; and on which Vote are these charges borne?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for WAR (Sir Laming Worthington-Evans)I have been asked to reply. The Committee exists for the purpose of maintaining cooperation between the Service Departments and the Press to guard against the publication of items of news the disclosure of which might be prejudicial to the interests of the forces of the Crown. 610 Its members are the permanent heads of the three Service Departments and representatives of the London and provincial Press. The necessary arrangements with the Press are made through the Secretary of the Committee, who is nominated by the Press members, and is also a member of the Committee. The expenses are borne (on behalf of the three Service Departments) by the War Office. In the last two years these expenses have amounted to slightly over £50 a year.
§ Captain BENNDo I understand that this Committee exercises some sort of censorship over the announcements which it is proposed to make in the Press?
§ Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANSOh, no. It is not censorship at all.
§ Mr. HARRISIs it for propaganda purposes?
§ Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANSNot even for that.