46. Mr. De la Bèreasked the Prime Minister whether he will consider setting up a Royal Commission for the purpose of conducting a research into the operations of the Central Office of Information on parallel lines to the inquiry that is being conducted by the Royal Commission on the Press.
§ The Prime MinisterNo, Sir.
Mr. De la BèreIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that this is not merely a question of what is sauce for the goose being sauce for the gander? Is he aware that an appalling amount of public money has been expended and is being expended by the Central Office of Information?
§ The Prime MinisterObviously, it is a bird of quite a different feather of which the hon. Gentleman has now got hold.
47. Mr. De la Bèreasked the Lord President of the Council whether, in connection with appointment of the Central Office of Information as an advertising agency of the various Government Departments he will give an assurance that this process will not be allowed to dominate the actions of the public relations departments of the Ministries throughout Whitehall; and 568 that there will be a genuine endeavour to make greater use of commercial firms to advise and assist in connection with all matters of advertising and propaganda.
§ The Lord President of the Council (Mr. Herbert Morrison)Yes, Sir. The Central Office of Information is the central Government agency for the commissioning, management, and presentation of display and Press advertising and poster advertising, but the Government Departments on whose behalf it acts are responsible for the content and policy of the advertisements. As regards the second part of the Question, the Central Office employs commercial advertising agencies for all its Press and poster advertising, and thus already makes full use of their advice and assistance.
Mr. De la BèreWill the right hon. Gentleman be very reasonable just for once and be so kind as to take back the P.R.O.s and C.O.I. and all this paraphernalia?
§ Mr. MorrisonI cannot see what that question has to do with the Question on the Order Paper.
§ Mr. Wilson HarrisHow can the House be made aware of these useful activities? Is there anything in the nature of an annual report, for instance?
§ Mr. MorrisonNo, I think there is nothing in the nature of an annual report. The best way in which the House could get information would be to have a Supply Day discussion on the general subject of Government publicity. It would be a most interesting day, I am sure.