45. Mr. De la Bèreasked the Prime Minister on which aspects of the work of the Central Office of Information he answers in this House, and on which aspects questions should be addressed to the Lord President of the Council and the Financial Secretary to the Treasury.
§ The Prime Minister (Mr. Attlee)As I explained in my statement of 7th March, 1946, my right hon. Friend the Lord President of the Council is charged with general supervision of the machinery which was set up to secure the proper integration of the information policy of Departments and to co-ordinate interdepartmental action both at home and overseas. Treasury Ministers are responsible to Parliament for the Vote of the Central Office of Information, and also deal with matters affecting the staffing, efficiency and methods of the Office. Publicity policy on the other hand is the responsibility of the Departmental Minister concerned in each case.
Mr. De la BèreWill the Prime Minister impress on his right hon. Friend the urgent need to separate the world of fact from the world of sham, and is he further aware that the C.O.I. urgently needs a complete overhaul?
§ The Prime MinisterIn reply to the first part of the supplementary question my right hon. Friend is very well aware of the distinction. As to the second part, I do not agree with the hon. Member