HC Deb 06 February 1945 vol 407 cc1872-4
6. Sir H. Williams

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power why a civil servant named Mr. Michael Romain was permitted to enter into controversy with Mrs. Sheila Bumford, one of His Majesty's subjects, through the medium of a letter to "The Times" newspaper.

Major Lloyd George

Mr. Romain is the Director of Public Relations of my Ministry, and the letter in question, which contained nothing controversial, was sent to "The Times" newspaper as part of his normal duties, and had my approval.

Sir H. Williams

Does not the right hon. and gallant Gentleman realise that, if civil servants write letters to the papers on matters which, whether they are factual or not, are controversial, ultimately the result will be that we shall start attacking civil servants by name in this Chamber?

Major Lloyd George

I agree that as a general rule that would be so, but these officers are for the purpose of giving information—in this instance of an extremely important character, because the peak load of electricity is one of the most important things affecting the recent difficulty. There was no controversy involved, and it is a little difficult, other than by letter, to get information if the newspaper does not refer to the Minister first.

Sir H. Williams

Was not the old practice that, when a Minister wished information conveyed, he wrote a letter to a correspondent and had it published, so that the Minister and not the civil servant gave the information?

64. Mr. De la Bère

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether, in view of the fact that responsibility for administration and expenses of the public relations officers attached to the various Government Departments is partially that of the Treasury and partially that of the Ministry of Information, he will confer with that Minister and publish the total number of public relations officers, including paid publicity agents, employed by the Government Departments as at 1st January, 1945, and the total cost of their salaries and expenses for the year ended 31st December, 1944.

The Financial Secretary to the Treasury (Mr. Peake)

I cannot assent to my Hon. Friend's description of the responsibility for the administration and expenses of Public Relations officers as partly that of the Treasury and partly that of the Ministry of Information. Whilst arrangements exist for co-ordination, Public Relations officers are appointed by their respective Departments, subject to the usual Treasury control. A statement regarding the numbers and cost of such staff in Government Departments was circulated in the OFFICIAL REPORT on Thursday last, in reply to the hon. Member for London University (Sir E. Graham Little).

Mr. De la Bère

Is the Minister aware that the statement did not give particulars of the Ministry of Information staff, and is he not further aware that there is a substantial expense to the taxpayer in the volume of fiction masquerading as news which is published at the request of the Departments?

Mr. Peake

Regarding the first part of the question, perhaps my hon. Friend will put a Question to the Minister of Information on that point. Regarding the second part, I anticipated that the considerable reduction in the number of these officers noted in the statement to which I have referred, would have afforded a substantial, if unusual, degree of satisfaction to my hon. Friend.

Mr. De la Bère

Is the Minister not aware that this is a matter of widespread interest to the taxpayers and the general public?

Mr. Speaker

rose.

Viscountess Astor

May I ask a question? There have only been two supplementaries.

Mr. Speaker

There were probably two too many.