HC Deb 09 May 1944 vol 399 c1714
63. Sir H. Williams

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury why an additional public relations officer has been appointed in his Department.

The Financial Secretary to the Treasury (Mr. Assheton)

My right hon. Friend is satisfied that a real need has been met by the appointment of a Treasury official as public relations officer, to be concerned solely with Treasury Departmental business. His functions will be additional to, and quite separate from, those of the Chief Press Liaison Officer.

Sir H. Williams

As the present officer has not got any work and the job is created in order to give him the equivalent of a pension, is it not time that this farce was stopped and that we put an end to this system, by which Whitehall is crawling with people doing duties which should be done by the Ministers?

Mr. Assheton

I cannot accept either of those statements.

Mr. Woodburn

Does this mean that the doings of the Treasury will be less wrapt in mystery in future, and that the public will come to know what goes on in that Department?

Mr. Assheton

It may help.