HC Deb 20 May 1946 vol 423 cc24-5
51. Mr. Orbach

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he has any statement to make on the Press and publicity arrangements of the British element of Allied Control Commission; and will he introduce qualified journalists to replace military personnel seconded to these tasks.

Mr. J. Hynd

Thirty-one newspapers and 31 periodicals, including a trade union journal, are now published by the Germans under licence in the British zone. The numbers are being increased as rapidly as circumstances allow. There are also several British-controlled newspapers, including one published throughout the whole zone. Other publicity media—radio, films and information rooms—are being fully exploited. A specialist staff of the British element of the Control Commission provides a complete news service, comprising news items, articles, photographs, etc. A number of qualified journalists are already employed either as civilians or Service officers. More will be appointed as and when necessary. The staff have had to contend with many difficulties, not least the shortage of newsprint; often they have had to improvise. They have done and are doing excellent work.

Mr. M. Lindsay

Does the Chancellor really think that a British Regular officer is best qualified to take charge of this highly technical matter of publicity in Germany?

Mr. Hynd

The fact is, as I have said in my reply, that there are qualified journalists, both officers and civilians, working on these services. The fact that a regular officer may be in charge of the administrative side does not alter the fact that the actual editorial work is under the control of experienced journalists.

Mr. Bartlett

Would the Minister bear in mind that, if he could make better arrangements for more information to be given, there would be much less probability of these grave misunderstandings in the world on what happens in the British zone?

Mr. Hynd

The information services are being extended. We have a pretty full international service as applied to the Press of Hamburg, which is under our control, and we are taking every possible step to increase it, within the limits, of course, of the necessary security considerations and so on.

Sir Arthur Salter

May I ask the Minister if he is aware of some confusion in the House between the English papers produced as house magazines for the British staffs there, and the control of publications for the German public? The hon. Member who asked a supplementary question just now referred to what I think are really house magazines and not publications for Germans.