HC Deb 21 April 1943 vol 388 cc1672-3
24. Captain Cobb

asked the Minister of Information whether there are available to officials a regular analysis and synopsis of the Continental Press; and, if so, whether they can be made regularly and easily available to Members and to journalists?

Mr. Bracken

Digests of the Continental Press are made available to newspapers so far as economy permits. I will gladly arrange for copies to be placed in the Library.

26. Mr. Pickthorn

asked the Minister of Information whether he will arrange with the British Broadcasting Corporation for a weekly broadcast on the Home Service designed to keep our public informed about movements of public opinion in the Continental Press?

Mr. Bracken

Quotations from the Continental Press are from time to time included in B.B.C. bulletins, but I doubt whether a special weekly feature could be justified. There are already a great many calls on the time at the B.B.C.'s disposal, and the Corporation has not the staff necessary to undertake the vast additional task of summarising the Continental Press.

27. Captain Cobb

asked the Minister of Information whether he will issue as a White Paper extracts from the most striking and characteristic articles in the Swedish and Turkish Press of the last four months?

Mr. Bracken

I regret I cannot accept my hon. and gallant Friend's suggestion. There are 130 daily papers in Sweden and 113 papers in Turkey. Therefore, even if one considered Press extracts to be suitable material for a White Paper, I should hestitate to have such a bulky document compiled as my hon. and gallant Friend desires.