§ 9. Wing-Commander Robinsonasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that the London correspondents of Colonial newspapers were given no access to his Department's release of news about major schemes of development in the Colonies; that at the conference several days afterwards, no additional information was given to them; and whether he will give an assurance that in all releases of news with regard to Colonial developments, the correspondents of Colonial newspapers in London and all journalists specialising in Colonial matters will be enabled to get information published in Colonial newspapers at the same time as it can be published in London and dispatched overseas by the news agencies.
Mr. Creech JonesI presume that my hon. and gallant Friend refers to reports recently published of plans to review the production of foodstuffs and other essential commodities in the Colonial Empire. No news release on this subject was made by the Colonial Office, but a reference in this House gave rise to speculation in the Press. As a result my Press Officers were given information which was then made available to all inquirers. In view of the interest in the subject it was thought that representatives of the Colonial specialist Press would welcome an opportunity of meeting a senior official of the Colonial Office and a conference was arranged accordingly. The purpose of this conference was not to release, news but to give background information the answer to the last part of the Question is; "Yes, Sir."