§ 49. Mr. Lewisasked the Prime Minister which Minister of the Crown was responsible for the organisation of the Ministry of Information up to the date of the outbreak of war?
§ The Prime MinisterI would refer my hon. Friend to the statement which I made on 15th June last in regard to the setting up of a Ministry of Information.
§ 75. Mr. Manderasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Information what progress has been made in setting up regional and district committees; what is the object of these bodies; how far steps have already been taken to provide Government lectures with the intention of sustaining the morale of the people; and whether he will give an assurance that there will be no interference with the free expression of public opinion?
§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Information (Sir Edward Grigg)One regional advisory committee has been set up in the north-west. The question of proceeding with the setting up of more, is, like all other matters connected with the regional organisations, under review. The function of regional advisory committees is to assist the chief regional information officers in their local duties. With regard to the third part of the question, a list of lecturers is being compiled on a non-political basis, and at present totals nearly 200. With regard to the fourth part of the question, I should like to repeat the answer I gave on 21st September to my hon. Friend the Member for Stockton-on-Tees (Mr. Harold Macmillan), when I said there was no intention on the part of the Ministry so to exercise their powers as to restrict the free expression of opinion.
§ Mr. ManderWill the Minister be good enough to circulate these 200 names in the OFFICIAL. REPORT; and will he say also whether he thinks that lecturers from the Ministry of Information are the best method of sustaining public morale at the present time?
§ Sir E. GriggI will consider the question of circulating the names of the lecturers. I think that public morale in this country is fairly robust.
§ Mr. Herbert MorrisonIs it intended that these lecturers shall be paid, and if that is so, is it desirable that the Government should themselves employ public lecturers on their own behalf?
§ Sir E. GriggI should like to have notice of that question.
§ Sir Archibald SinclairIs the Minister satisfied that the morale of the public is sufficiently robust to stand lecturers from the Ministry of Information?
§ Sir E. GriggThat is exactly what I suggested.
§ 77. Mr. Storeyasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Information what was the date of the appointment of Mr. Ivison S. Macadam, C.B.E., C.V.O., now Assistant Director-General, as Director of Co-ordination; what, if any, salary was paid to him in that appointment; and whether, at any time during his employment at the Ministry he has been employed in his former appointment of secretary of the Royal Institute of International Affairs?
§ Sir E. GriggMr. Macadam was appointed Director of Co-ordination as from 1st September, 1939, the date on which the Ministry of Information was set up. His salary, like that of the other directors, was not fixed at the time of his appointment. As I have already informed the House, my Noble Friend has the organisation of the Ministry under immediate review, including the salaries appertaining to the various appointments.
§ Mr. StoreyIs the Minister aware that only last week the Royal Institute of International Affairs issued a document signed by this gentleman and does he not think that, as a step towards economy, he might dispense with his half-time services?
§ Sir E. GriggMr. Macadam has had nothing whatever to do with the Institute of International Affairs since he took up his duties under the Ministry of Information. As regards the other supplementary question, an advance at the rate of £ 1,250 a year is being made to Mr. Macadam, pending a final decision as to his salary.
§ Brigadier-General Sir Alfred KnoxWill the Minister say what Mr. Macadam co-ordinates?
§ Mr. StoreyWill such officials as this come under the review which is being held?
§ Sir E. GriggYes, Sir.
§ Mr. H. MorrisonIs it not the case that the Royal Institute of International Affairs has been taken over by the Ministry of Information?
§ Sir E. GriggNo, Sir.
§ 78. Mr. Flemingasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Information, who is the chief regional information officer for the north-western area; what are his qualifications; and what is his salary?
§ Sir E. GriggThe chief regional information officer for the north-western region is Sir Ernest Simon. He was selected for this position because of his organising abilities and extensive knowledge of local conditions and activities in that region. Sir Ernest is giving his services without salary.
§ Mr. FlemingIs it a fact that this gentleman has had no journalistic experience whatever, and is my hon. Friend aware that this appointment of the ex-Member for Whittington has caused great dissatisfaction in the City of Manchester?
§ Sir E. GriggI am not aware of that. As regards journalistic experience, I do not think any is required for this particular duty.
§ Sir R. AclandCannot we have anybody at the Ministry of Information who knows anything about information?
§ 81. Sir F. Fremantleasked the Parliamentary Secretary. to the Ministry of Information whether he has on his staff persons connected with the technical, and especially the medical, Press, who will be able to prevent distorted or ex- 1948 aggerated reports of disease or other calamity, actual or possible, either in this country or in the theatre of war?
§ Sir E. GriggNo special provision has been made in the staffing of the Ministry to provide against the emergency which my hon. Friend contemplates. The subject is one for my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health, who will now again be directly responsible for all the publicity necessitated by the work of his Department.
§ Sir F. FremantleDoes my hon. Friend realise the very great danger of these exaggerated reports, and the essential importance of any such suggestions being sifted before they are given out to the public?
§ Sir E. GriggPerhaps my hon. Friend will address that suggestion to the appropriate Department.
§ 82. Mr. Rileyasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Information how many local committees, as distinct from regional committees, have been set up under the Ministry; what are their specific functions; and do these local committees receive any financial assistance from the Ministry?
§ Sir E. GriggUp to 3rd October, 1939, 64 voluntary local information committees had been set up and were at work, and at least 100 others were in active process of formation. Their functions were to suggest publicity measures suitable for particular purposes in particular neighbourhoods; to co-operate with voluntary societies in such measures; to promote meetings and lectures; and to arrange for the distribution of publicity material. In regard to the second part of the question, reasonable travelling expenses incurred by members attending meetings were to be met; but it was hoped that premises and secretarial assistance would be provided free.
§ Mr. RileyHas the hon. Member any information on whether these local committees are actually meeting and what they are doing?
§ Sir E. GriggThere is an inquiry into the work of these committees at the present time.
§ Mr. ManderIs not the whole thing waste of time?
§ Mr. Noel-BakerIs it proposed to keep the committees in existence or are they to be disposed of with the regional organisations?
§ Sir E. GriggWe hope to continue to avail ourselves of all voluntary workers.
§ Sir A. KnoxIs it not a scandalous waste of public money?