HC Deb 13 November 1940 vol 365 cc1693-5
35. Mr. Davidson

asked the Minister of Information why the number of public meetings held under the auspices of his Department is being reduced; whether any speakers have been dismissed; and how far this is due to objections having been raised to meetings addressed by speakers inclined to take more radical and democratic views than are consistent with Government policy?

Mr. Cooper

The main reason for the reduction in the number of meetings promoted or sponsored by the Ministry is that the season for outdoor meetings, which accounted for about half the number, is over. There is also the undesirability of assembling large numbers of people in one place under night raiding conditions. Transport difficulties and the increasing scarcity of suitable halls are additional factors. The answer to the second part of the Question is that the number of full-time paid speakers on the Ministry staff has been reduced from 49 to 29. As regards the third part of the Question, no speaker has been dismissed on account of political views, but all speakers are under instructions to refrain from taking part in party politics while in the employment of the Ministry.

Mr. Davidson

Is the Minister aware that statements have appeared under the pen of Mr. Hannen Swaffer stating that he himself and another lady, a member of the Labour party, were submitted to a Tory M.P. for his approval as to whether they should speak in his constituency or not, and that because this Tory M.P. objected, these people, who wanted to place the national point of view before the public, were refused a hearing?

Mr. Cooper

The point of view which I have adopted with regard to this question is that, while it is no part of the duty of the Ministry of Information to prevent or to arrange meetings, we are always willing to assist Members or a constituency in arranging meetings wherever they wish to hold them, but I also take the view that, as a Member of Parliament, I should consult my colleagues regarding meetings arranged by the Ministry in their constituency. If they object to certain speakers, the Ministry should take no part in arranging these meetings.

Mr. Shinwell

If that is the position, are we to understand that, if the Minister wishes to send speakers to my constituency, I can object? I have no objection to anyone coming—even the right hon. Gentleman himself—but if that happens, it confounds the whole purpose of the Ministry in attempting to arrange meetings.

Mr. A. Bevan

Does the right hon. Gentleman appreciate that it is the general view that public money ought not to be spent on sending propagandists into any constituency unless there is general agreement to do so and unless the Member of Parliament is consulted?

Mr. Key

Is it not a fact that the London Advisory Committee of the Ministry of Information have said that this political veto has prevented them from arranging any winter programme of meetings because speakers are not being accepted in their locality?

Mr. Cooper

If they have made such a statement, it is quite inaccurate. Very few cases have arisen of Members objecting to certain people being sent to their constituencies, and I do not think that such objections are likely to be frequent. In regard to the point raised by the hon. Member for Seaham (Mr. Shinwell), I have no power to prevent anyone going to his constituency, but I would not send a speaker to his constituency without having the courtesy to consult him first.

Mr. Kenneth Lindsay

Could my right hon. Friend make it absolutely clear who is responsible for the selection of speakers and what is the position with regard to a Member of Parliament in relation to these speakers?

Mr. Cooper

The general practice is that a regional information committee draws up a list of speakers whom they think it would be desirable to have in the constituency, and arrangements are made for the list to be communicated to the Member of Parliament. If there happens to he a speaker whom the Member would not wish to have in his constituency—somebody may be a candidate and might take advantage of the position—he objects, and then the Ministry approaches one of the other speakers on the list and arranges a meeting.

Mr. Lindsay

Should not the list be submitted to each Member?