45. Mr. De la Bèreasked the Prime Minister whether, with a view to increased efficiency and preventing overlapping, he w ill consider merging the organisation of the British Council into the Ministry of Information?
§ Mr. AttleeNo, Sir. I do not see that it would increase efficiency to merge the two organisations. An arrangement has recently been come to and agreed between the two organisations to obviate any risk of overlapping.
Mr. De la BèreCan the right hon. Gentleman tell us exactly where the sphere of usefulness of the British Council really begins, and what it does with its money, since there have been very few results to show for the large sums expended?
§ Mr. AttleeI cannot give a full account, as it would be too long for a Parliamentary answer, but the British Council was formed for the purposes of making the English language and British culture better known in other countries. The Ministry of Information has the function of presenting the British case to the world. The one institution is cultural, and the other is political.
Mr. Graham WhiteWas not the object for which the British Council was started also to propagate the very ideals for which this country is at war?
§ Mr. MaxtonThe right hon. Gentleman referred to both these organisations as institutions. Are the British Council and the Ministry of Information actually of 30 the same status in the eyes of the Government, and is "institution" the recognised term for the Ministry?
§ Mr. AttleeThe word "organisation" would cover both.
§ Mr. LipsonHas the right hon. Gentleman taken into account how the work of the British Council in spreading British culture abroad will be hampered by a tax on books?