§ 49. Mr. Butcherasked the PrimeMinister, whether the speakers for the pro posed broadcast talks on the facts and figures contained in Cmd. 7018 will be nominated by the Central Office of Information.
§ The Prime MinisterNo, Sir.
§ Mr. ButcherMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether we may take it from his reply that the B.B.C. will have complete liberty to select their own speakers?
§ The Prime MinisterThat is the implication.
§ Sir W. SmithersWill the right hon. Gentleman take special care to see that these speakers all hold either the Socialist or Communist party ticket?
§ The Prime MinisterI am afraid that I did not hear the supplementary question.
§ 50. Mr. Butcherasked the PrimeMinister if he will make a statement of the Government's policy to meet the problem of unemployment and underemployment that threatens the country in view of the serious shortages in supplies of fuel and raw materials.
§ The Prime MinisterThis question does not lend itself to treatment by question and answer, and I suggest that the hon. Member should await the White Paper on the general economic position of the country, which is shortly to be issued, and the Debate which will follow it.
§ Mr. ButcherIs the Prime Minister aware that since this Question was put on the Order Paper, unemployment and underemployment throughout the country have increased alarmingly, and are we to understand that, after 18 months in power, he can offer no advice to the country, except that of having to wait?
§ The Prime MinisterNo, the hon. Gentleman must not understand anything of the sort.
§ 51. Mr. Butcherasked the PrimeMinister what steps are being taken by the Central Office of Information to recruit speakers to expound the recent White Paper (Cmd. 7018); how many it is proposed to recruit, and on what basis they are to be remunerated.
§ The Prime MinisterSpeakers have been giving talks on production at factory and other meetings for some time, and they are already drawing the attention of their audience to the facts and figures of the White Paper. Factories and other interested organisations wishing for explanatory talks on its subject matter have 1394 only to notify the Central Office of Information or its regional offices. If increased demand justifies it, more speakers could be recruited in consultation with the regional boards for Industry. Lecturers receive a fee of one to three guineas a lecture, subject to a maximum payment in any week.