§ 46. Mr. Boyd-Carpenterasked the Lord President of the Council whether he is aware that a document entitled "Matters of Fact V," issued by Special Briefs Section, Central Office of Information, on 9th January, 1948, contains statements of opinion on the subject of control of engagement and direction of labour which are of a controversial nature; and what instructions he has given to this office on the subject of engaging in party propaganda.
§ The Lord President of the Council (Mr. Herbert Morrison)Almost any statement on this subject is liable to be regarded as controversial, but I cannot 1233 agree that the statement referred to contains anything which could be described as party propaganda. Officials of the Central Office of Information are fully aware that it is not their function to engage in such propaganda.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterIs not a defence of the policy of the direction of labour, to which the Government itself is so recent a convert, inevitably controversial, and should not political controversy be carried on by methods other than the use of public funds?
§ Mr. MorrisonI do not read the extract —which I am prepared to give the House if necessary—as a defence of the order. It is an exposition of what the order is about, and what it is for, strictly in relationship to the general text of the document. With great respect to the hon. Gentleman, I think he is wrong in suggesting that this is party propaganda.
§ Lord John HopeIs it not misleading to the public to include something which is admittedly controversial, under the title "Matters of Fact"?
§ Mr. MorrisonThis is a matter of fact. I will read the extract. It is quite short:
But recruitment drives alone will not do the trick. That is why the Control of Engagement Order was made in October, 1947."——
§ Mr. MorrisonIndeed, it is. It goes on:
This ensures that everyone seeking a new job has a choice of really vital jobs to go into. This is not the same thing as direction"——
§ Mr. MorrisonNo, it is not.
which is used in only a very few cases where a worker, apparently without any good reason, persistently refuses to take a job on essential work or any job at all.If people are to talk intelligently about the efforts of the Government and the country to put themselves right, they must know what they are talking about. If the Opposition object to that, I think they are not being very helpful.
§ Mr. MarloweIn view of the fact that the Government voted for this order and the Opposition voted against it, why does the right hon. Gentleman say it is not controversial?
§ Mr. MorrisonThat means that in any statement in relation to the economic situation the Opposition wants the right of veto. I suggest that there is quite enough veto in the world as it is.
§ Mr. SpeakerI think we are getting on to very dangerous ground.