9. Sir Nairne Stewart Sandemanasked the Minister of Information whether verbatim reports of other Parliaments, foreign, Dominion and Colonial, are received regularly, and are studied by the Ministry?
§ The Minister of Information (Sir John Reith)Verbatim reports of proceedings in Empire and Foreign Parliaments are in most cases available, but it is not considered practicable or necessary for the Ministry to study them regularly. Summaries of proceedings of Dominion and Colonial legislatures, prepared by the Empire Parliamentary Association and issued in their Journal, are regularly read. Attention is drawn to important debates in foreign Parliaments through the Chatham House summary of the foreign Press and in cables from His Majesty's Missions.
Sir N. Stewart SandemanIs it not very important that people in this country should have some means of knowing what 737 is happening in those Parliaments? We are not getting that information, and we have been very much handicapped?
§ Mr. ManderIs not the Empire Parliamentary Association publication, to which the right hon. Gentleman referred, very admirable, and does it not give us a very great deal of information?
§ Mr. George GriffithsWho passes on to Haw-Haw the answers given to Questions here every day?
§ Sir J. ReithA great many Members besides the hon. Member would be glad to know.
§ Mr. GriffithsI hope you will find out.
§ STAFF (STENOGRAPHERS).
10. Sir N. Stewart Sandemanasked the Minister of Information, why stenographers at the Ministry of Information are paid 15s. a week less than those doing the same class of work at the War Office?
§ Sir J. ReithI cannot find any difference in the rates of pay of stenographers employed in similar grades in my Department and in the War Office. If my hon. Friend has any specific case in mind, and will communicate with me, I shall be glad to look into it.