HC Deb 21 September 1939 vol 351 cc1058-61
43. Mr. Gallacher

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Information whether he has considered the protest from the National Union of Journalists concerning failure to provide the public with adequate news of the conduct of the war; and whether he will consider consulting with the union as to the best methods of reorganising the Ministry with a view to providing a more adequate service?

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Information (Sir Edward Grigg)

My Noble Friend has received and considered the resolution referred to, which was passed on 8th September. The Press organisations are now, I am sure, satisfied of the Ministry's desire to work in close co-operation with them, and much consultation has already taken place. In this connection the House will welcome the announcement that Lord Camrose has been good enough to give the Ministry the benefit of his great knowledge and long experience.

Mr. Gallacher

Would it not be desirable to meet the representatives of the National Union of Journalists and to reorganise the whole method of providing information, through the service that they, are able to give? Is the hon. Member aware that everyone is very dissatisfied with the present very undesirable situation?

Sir E. Grigg

As I have explained to the hon. Member, full consultation is already taking place with organisations representing journalists, and I think he may rest assured that those consultations will go into every point of importance.

Mr. Magnay

May the House be assured that the practices of Russia will never obtain here?

Mr. Aneurin Bevan

Would it not have been much better to have appointed a competent working journalist for this job, rather than Lord Camrose?

44. Mr. Gallacher

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Information what proportion of the journalists employed in connection with the Ministry of Information are members of the National Union of Journalists; how many members of the union volunteered for such work during the preliminary registration carried out before the war by the National Service Department of the Ministry of Labour; and how many of those who volunteered have since been called upon?

Sir E. Grigg

There are at present 16 journalists employed at the headquarters of the Ministry of Information. With two or three exceptions, they are all understood to be members of professional organisations of journalists, about one-third being members of the National Union of Journalists. As regards the second and third parts of the question, my Noble Friend is informed by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour that 317 members of the National Union of Journalists have enrolled under the Central Register scheme; they did so mostly before the outbreak of the war. The journalists at present employed in the Ministry of Information were almost entirely selected before the Central Register of Journalists had been compiled. None of them in consequence figures upon that register. No further appointments of that character have so far been required. When any are found necessary, the hon. Gentleman may rest assured that the Central Register will be closely consulted for men with the qulifications essential to such post.

Mr. Gallacher

Is there not something wrong when such a small proportion of members of the National Union of Journalists is engaged for this work, and is this any encouragement to the voluntary service which the journalists so readily offered in the event of hostilities?

Mr. Macquisten

Is not the Ministry of Information meant to prevent information leaking out, just as the Ministry of Transport is meant to obstruct transport?

Sir E. Grigg

The National Union of Journalists is not the only voluntary organisation. I can assure the hon. Member that the National Union of Journalists is fully consulted in these matters, but he will recognise that the choice of individual journalists must rest on their qualifications for their particular duties.

48. Mr. Harold Macmillan

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Information whether he will give an assurance that in exercising its powers, the Ministry of Information will not attempt to suppress critical examination of any aspect of Government policy, whether military, economic or diplomatic, as long as no actual disclosure of facts unknown to the enemy is involved?

Sir E. Grigg

My Noble Friend made it clear in his statement last week that the function of the Ministry is to be a Ministry of expression and not of repression, and I can give the fullest assurance that there is no intention on the part of the Ministry so to exercise their powers as to restrict the free expression of opinion, including the critical examination of any aspect of Government policy, save in so far as this might convey information which might be useful to the enemy.

Mr. Macquisten

Will the hon. Member tell us where the "Bremen" is?

Sir E. Grigg

The hon. and learned Member had better put that question to the appropriate Department.

Mr. Aneurin Bevan

Is the Minister aware that the impression is now universal that if the Germans do not manage to bomb us to death the Ministry of Information will bore us to death?