HC Deb 14 May 1941 vol 371 c1206
38. Major Lloyd

asked the Minister of Information whether he will encourage regional committees of the Ministry of Information to invite local Members of Parliament to address lunch-hour meetings of workers and staffs in factories in their own constituencies, in order to express appreciation of the magnificent services which are being rendered by the factories to our war effort, and to encourage the workers concerned to still further efforts in the future?

Mr. Cooper

I am informed that meetings of the kind suggested by my hon. and gallant Friend are being held in many parts of the country, with excellent results, and I shall be glad to do anything in my power to assist in the organisation of such meetings wherever the need for them is felt.

Mr. Buchanan

Does the Minister accept the position that such speakers should make statements that often reflect in a derogatory manner upon certain opinions held in this country? For instance, does he take the view of a recent speaker at Hamilton that people in the West of Scotland who are having large families are not the right type of people to have them and that it would be better for certain other people to have large families?

Mr. Cooper

I cannot answer offhand for the views of the anonymous speakers to whom the hon. Member is referring. If he has any complaint about any speaker on behalf of the Ministry of Information, perhaps he will let me have particulars.