§ 49. Mrs. Middletonasked the Minister of Food why Sir William Rook, one of his officers, informed the "Evening Standard," about 26th October, that an announcement about sugar was expected soon; and why the announcement was made only to one newspaper and not through the normal Press channels to the whole of the Press.
§ Dr. SummerskillOn his return from America, Sir William Rook was questioned by several newspaper reporters as to whether, and if so when, my right hon. Friend would make an announcement on the results of his mission. He replied that an announcement might be made soon.
§ Mrs. MiddletonCould my hon. Friend explain why it is permissible for a public servant to give to one newspaper alone what that newspaper itself describes as a scoop, and so enable that newspaper to stage a campaign which makes it seem as though the Minister in making a subsequent announcement bows to the wishes of that newspaper, which, as we know, is quite apart from the truth?
§ Dr. SummerskillI do not think it is as complicated as my hon. Friend thinks. Sir William is a very nice, courteous man. He was met by a number of reporters— we have all had that experience— and I think the "Evening Standard" describes him as behaving like a cautious Whitehall civil servant. He was courteous in so far as he said that an announcement would be made, but he also said that he would not predict whether it would be a pleasant or an unpleasant announcement. He said that was a matter for my right hon. Friend.
§ Mrs. MiddletonNevertheless, I must ask whether my hon. Friend does not agree that if announcements of this kind are to be made, they should be made to the generality of the Press and not to one or two selected newspapers?
§ Dr. SummerskillAs I have already told my hon. Friend, a number of reporters met Sir William.