18. Sir F. HALLasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if arrangements can be made for the report on the inquiry which has been set up by the Government with respect to Soviet propaganda to be issued in time for the question to be debated by Parliament before the Adjournment?
§ 24. Mr. GODFREY LOCKER-LAMPSONasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can now state 905 what progress has been made with the machinery set up by him to inquire into hostile propaganda by the Soviet Government?
Mr. A. HENDERSONThese investigations are still proceeding, but I am not yet in a position to say when they are likely to be terminated. With regard to the question of a report, I can only call the hon. and gallant Member's attention to my replies of the 26th of May and the 2nd of July, in which I said that His Majesty's Government would decide on the basis of the inquiries what action, if any, will be appropriate.
§ Mr. LOCKER-LAMPSONIn view of the fact that this inquiry has been- going on for many months, can the right hon. Gentleman say whether he will be able to make any announcement before the House rises?
Mr. HENDERSONI am afraid that I shall not, because hon. Members are never tired of reminding me that propaganda is going on, and therefore we must continue the inquiry.
§ Lord EUSTACE PERCYDoes that mean that we shall never have any result from this machinery, and that the Government will always be ineffectually trying to catch up with the propaganda?
Mr. HENDERSONNo, it does not quite mean that. The House will have to give the Government an opportunity of considering the report when the report is issued.