§ 8. Mr. D. GRENFELLasked the Under-Secretary of State for India the amount of subsidies granted to any journals published in India and the circulation of the journals in each case?
§ 2. Mr. T. SMITHasked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether the Government of India or the local Governments, directly or indirectly, subsidise any newspaper, or magazines, or news services; and for what reasons any such subsidies are given?
§ Mr. BUTLERNeither the Government of India nor local governments subsidise any newspapers, magazines or news services. They do, however, subscribe to certain news agencies on a commercial basis for the supply of news telegrams to various Departments and officers. In one instance they pay a news agency for transmitting overseas news of Government importance outside the scope of their ordinary service. They also purchase copies of certain newspapers and magazines, according to the requirements of the public service.
§ Mr. GRENFELLWill the hon. Gentleman explain in fuller detail the technical difference between subscribing and subsidising?
§ Mr. BUTLERCertain copies of certain newspapers are useful for the public service, and in these cases, for the reasons I have given, the Government of India purchase certain copies.
§ Mr. H. G. WILLIAMSDo not a great many Members of this House pay for news cuttings without subsidising the newspapers?