HC Deb 21 April 1943 vol 388 cc1674-5
29. Captain Cunningham-Reid

asked the Minister of Information the total number of the personnel of the British Information Service in America?

Mr. Bracken

The total staff of the British Information Services in America numbers 357, of which 91 are administrative or technical officers. The remaining staff is made up of Press clippers, junior assistants, clerks, typists, messengers, office boys, etc.

30. Captain Cunningham-Reid

asked the Minister of Information how many of the personnel of the British Information Service in America have been editors of national daily papers?

Mr. Bracken

I assume that when the hon. and gallant Gentleman mentions national daily papers he means papers which circulate in every part of a country on the same day. As there are no such newspapers in the United States, the British Information Services do not stand in need of what he calls editors of national daily papers, and possess none.

Captain Cunningham-Reid

I thought it would be quite obvious that I was referring to national papers in this country.

Mr. Bracken

I did not gather that from the Question, but in any case I do not think it matters very much to the answer. It still stands.

31. Captain Cunningham-Reid

asked the Minister of Information why the British Information Service in the United States of America did not have the text of the Home Secretary's speech of 3rd April on post-war planning until several days after that speech had been made?

Mr. Bracken

The hon. and gallant Member may recall that the Home Secretary made three important speeches on post-war affairs. He supplied the M.O.I. with advance copies of these speeches which were transmitted to the United States. My right hon. Friend did not supply the Ministry with a copy of the speech which he made in Yorkshire and which dealt with the future of the Labour Party. Doubtless the Home Secretary felt that a speech dealing with a matter of party politics should not be transmitted abroad at the expense of the taxpayers.

Captain Cunningham-Reid

Is the Minister aware that the criticism in my Question was made by Mr. Raymond Gram Swing in a cabled article to the "Sunday Express" last Sunday, entitled "Tell America more about the British," and does he adhere to his recent statement that Mr. Raymond Gram Swing considers our information services to be "just right"?

Mr. Shinwell

Will the Minister use his good offices to ensure that in future any speech by any Minister, including a Labour Minister, on the future of the Labour Party will be submitted to the Labour Party?

Mr. Bracken

It would be regarded as a great act of impudence if I interfered in the domestic affairs of the Labour Party.

Captain Cunningham-Reid

Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind what I have said the next time he makes one of his restrained, statesmanlike speeches?