§ 14. Major-General Sir Alfred Knoxasked the Minister of Information what is the estimated annual cost of the regional local committees of the Ministry of Information?
Mr. CooperOn the basis of recent accounts, the expenditure of the 338 regional local committees is at the rate of £7,200 per annum.
§ Sir A. KnoxDoes the right hon. Gentleman consider that this expenditure is really justified, in view of the fact that in the last War we did not incur a similar expenditure, and now the country is much more united than it was in the last war?
Mr. CooperI have been looking very closely into the work of the local committees and have found very satisfactory results, and I have had very satisfactory reports from the Regional Commissioners.
§ 15. Sir A. Knoxasked the Minister of Information what is the annual expenditure on weekly regional bulletins, and what is the average circulation?
Mr. CooperIn the London Region 5,000 copies of a bulletin are issued weekly at an approximate cost, calculating postage at the normal public rates, of £13 10s. for each issue. In five other regions, bulletins have been issued at irregular intervals. The average circulation of these is about 600 copies, and the cost is approximately £8 for each issue.
§ Sir A. KnoxWould it not be possible for the information contained in these bulletins to be given to organs of the 147 Press and thus secure a bigger circulation?
Mr. CooperI am looking into that matter too. The demand for the bulletins varies in different districts. How far they are serving a useful purpose is now the subject of an inquiry.
§ Mr. George GriffithsIs not some of the information in the bulletins secret information? Some Members are glad to get hold of them so that they can get to know something.