HC Deb 24 April 1940 vol 360 cc185-7
16. Mr. Levy

asked the Minister of Information whether he is now in a position to make a statement on the reorganisation of the methods of the censorship and the relationship in this respect between his Department and the Defence Departments?

The Minister of Information (Sir John Reith)

I would ask my hon. Friend to be kind enough to await the statement which the Prime Minister will make later this afternoon.

Later:

The Prime Minister

The House is aware that since 9th October last the Ministry of Information has had no responsibility for the communication of news to the Press or for Press censorship. Each Department is responsible for the issue of its own news, while the central machinery for the communication of news to the Press and for the exercise of Press censorship has been operated by the Press and Censorship Bureau under the direction of Sir Walter Monckton. In the light of further experience it has been decided that the Ministry of Information shall resume the functions at present performed by the Press and Censorship Bureau. Each Department remains responsible for the issue of its own news either through the Ministry or simultaneously through the Ministry and its own organisation. Subject to advice from the Ministry on general censorship policy, the Defence Departments are responsible for censorship decisions in all matters where it is necessary to prevent information from reaching the enemy. Parliamentary Questions on specific censorship decisions should be addressed to the Minister in charge of the Department concerned with the subject matter. All other questions affecting censorship should be addressed to the Minister of Information.

In order to strengthen the liaison between the Service Departments and the Ministry and to ensure that the Ministry's point of view is adequately presented, the number of senior service officers attached to the Ministry is being increased, and representatives of the Ministry are being appointed to the Service Departments. Existing arrangements by which the Press have direct access to the Departments will remain undisturbed. The Minister of Information has appointed Sir Walter Monckton to be Deputy Director-General of the Ministry. In order to provide for the necessary collaboration between the Foreign Division of the Ministry of Information, which is responsible for publicity in neutral countries, and the Department of Enemy Propaganda under the Foreign Office, the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, in agreement with the Minister of Information, has appointed Sir Walter Monckton to be an additional Deputy Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs. These changes will take effect immediately. The Department of Postal and Telegraph Censorship, formerly under the War Office, is being transferred forthwith to the Ministry of Information.

Mr. Levy

While saying at once that this statement will give general satisfaction throughout the country, may I hope that under the new organisation those conflicting statements which we see from time to time in the Press will be avoided and that there will be somebody in control who will be the deciding factor?

The Prime Minister

"Hope springs eternal in the human breast."

Sir Stanley Reed

Will other Government Departments with publicity organisations be under the general direction of the Minister of Information, or will they work independently and be responsible only to their departmental heads?

The Prime Minister

If my hon. Friend will study the answer I have given, I think he will find that his question is answered there.

Mr. Garro Jones

The Prime Minister has stated that the postal censorship is being transferred to the Ministry of Information. Does that mean not only a prima facie censorship of the contents of telegrams, but an investigation into the authenticity of telegrams and their senders, particularly in regard to foreign telegrams, of which 88,000 are sent out each week?

The Prime Minister

I must have notice of that question.