HC Deb 13 October 1942 vol 383 cc1490-1
45. Mr. De la Bère

asked the Prime Minister whether he will find time for consideration of the Motion standing in the name of the hon. Member for Evesham, relating to Government announcements?

The Lord Privy Seal (Sir Stafford Cripps)

I fear that I can hold out no hope of the Government being able to allocate time for discussion of the Motion standing in the name of my hon. Friend.

Mr. De la Bère

Is the right hon. and learned Gentleman aware that it is no use the Government disclaiming responsibility for certain articles that appear in the Press when all the time these articles are written by Press representatives who are paid by the Government themselves, and will he really give this matter serious thought? More and more of these men are being called up by the Government and being paid to put in articles, which is absolutely deceiving the public, who think they are part of the ordinary Press when they are nothing more or less than inspired articles by the Government, which are paid for. The whole thing is wrong. Would he look into it?

Sir S. Gripps

The Government are always prepared to look into anything which the hon. Gentleman says is wrong.

Mr. De la Bère

Is the right hon. and learned Gentleman aware that these deceptions will not much longer continue to deceive?