HC Deb 27 September 1939 vol 351 cc1330-4
42. Sir Smedley Crooke

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Information what are the duties of a Press liaison officer in the Ministry; how many of such officers are employed; and what salaries they are paid?

Sir E. Grigg

The duties of a Press liaison officer in the News Division of the Ministry of Information are to distribute to the Press the news bulletins, etc., issued by the Division; to amplify these bulletins in talks to the Press representatives and to answer inquiries on them; to arrange interviews with members of the Specialist Sections of the Division when Press representatives desire further elucidation or make inquirieson particular points; and generally to assist Press representatives in all matters affecting the News Division and the Censorship Division. Seven officers of this grade are employed because the service has to be continuous over 24 hours; their salaries are at the rate of £650 per annum.

Sir Smedley Crooke

Is my hon. Friend aware that some of these officers are carrying out duties usually undertaken by office boys? Will he make inquiries into that?

Sir E. Grigg

If the hon. Member can give me an example of what he means I shall be very grateful to him. I have not seen that myself.

Sir P. Harris

Are any of these seven men trained journalists or can the hon. Member say what are their particular qualifications for their job?

Sir E. Grigg

I cannot answer off-hand with regard to the qualifications of the liaison officers, but practically all the officers employed on these duties in the Ministry have had previous experience of liaison work with the Press.

Mr. Lyons

Can my hon. Friend say by whom they were appointed?

Sir E. Grigg

Perhaps the hon. Member will await the answer to a later question.

43. Sir Smedley Crooke

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Information how many persons are employed on the strength of the Ministry; how many were formerly civil servants; how many are officers in the Services; and how many are journalists of repute?

Sir E. Grigg

As regards the first part of the question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave yesterday to the hon. Member for Doncaster (Mr. J. Morgan). The staff at headquarters and in the regional offices of the Ministry includes 388 civil servants, 50 officers of the fighting Services and 43 professional journalists. I should add that nearly half of the total number employed consists of clerical, typing and messenger grades, and that the News and Censorship Divisions, which account for 433 persons in all, are working on a three-shift basis covering the full 24 hours a day. This of course necessitates a proportionately larger staff.

Sir Joseph Nall

Why does every executive require a typist or a messenger?

Sir E. Grigg

I am not aware that they do.

Sir Francis Fremantle

Can my hon. Friend say whether some of the journalists include those connected with the technical Press, especially the medical Press, who would be of immense value to the Ministry of Information?

Sir E. Grigg

I must ask for notice of that question.

Sir Nairne Stewart Sandeman

Are these civil servants men picked for the job, or are they men who have been handed over from other Departments?

Sir E. Grigg

I stated yesterday that my Noble Friend is investigating the staff of the Ministry. Until that investigation is completed 1 hope the House will allow me to ask them to wait before I answer further questions on that point.

Mr. Naylor

May I ask what these persons are doing with the information they receive?

Sir E. Grigg

I am sure the hon. Member understands that the Ministry of Information can only give out the information which reaches it from the Departments concerned.

58. Mr. Lyons

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Information whether he will state the salaries paid to all officers of the Ministry of Information except the permanent Civil Service and clerical staff so employed, in London andthe country; and by what selection board or other means they were respectively appointed?

Sir E. Grigg

As the reply to the first part of the question includes a number of figures I will, with my hon. Friend's permission, circulate it in the Official Report. The appointment of persons designated for the principal posts in the Ministry was approved by my right hon. Friend the Lord Privy Seal. The selection of staff for the remaining posts was carried out by the nucleus start. In certain cases consultations took place with the Press and the British Council. Certain officers were nominated by other Government Departments as their representatives.

Mr. Lyons

Can the Minister tell me, in relation to the 1,000 persons who are employed in this Department, what is in the main the occupation of those who are not civil servants and what is in the main the occupation of those persons who have been appointed in the provinces, and by whom they have been appointed?

Sir E. Griggs

That is an entirely different question, and perhaps the hon. and learned Member will put it down.

Sir P. Harris

Has any estimate been made of the total monthly cost of this Department?

Sir E. Grigg

I told the House yesterday that my Noble Friend is now going closely into the organisation of this Department. It has been in existence only three weeks.

Following is the information:

(A) Headquarters staff. £
(1) The general classification (apart from certain posts for which special technical or professional qualifications are required), is as follows:
Salaried officers, Grade I (i.e. Heads of Sections) 1,000
Salaried Officers, Grade II 600–800
Salaried Officers, Grade III—two ranges, depending on age and qualifications 400–500
250–350
Several of the Directors are serving without pay from public fundsThe salaries of the remainder have not yet been fixed. A few officers of the rank of Deputy Director arc receiving salaries up to £1,200. Officers on loan from the British Council are retaining their previous salaries..
(2) The following special rates have been fixed for particular classes:
Censorship Division.
Deputy Chief Censors 740
Censors 635
Assistant Censors 515
Deputy Assistant Censors 395
News Division.
Members of Specialist Sections (corresponding to Press Officers of Government Departments) 650
(B) Regional staff. £
Chief Regional Information Officers 800–1,000
Publicity and Press Officers 400–500