HC Deb 25 November 1948 vol 458 cc1405-7
46. Mr. Marlowe

asked the Lord President of the Council whether his attention has been drawn to the Central Office of Information publication "Home Affairs Survey" of 16th November where it is stated that working class earnings are supplemented by the additional benefits of family allowances, rent, subsidy, food subsidy and free education, and that these are a fair illustration of the help given by the Government's policy to large working class families who, in all previous periods, have often fallen below the poverty line; and as all these benefits were created by legislation of previous Governments if he will correct this mis-statement.

The Lord President of the Council (Mr. Herbert Morrison)

No, Sir. The "Home Affairs Survey" is produced for oversea publicity use. In such a factual article as that to which, the hon. Member refers, it would be neither appropriate nor useful for oversea audiences to divide credit between individual administrations,. and therefore the phrase used was "the Government"—in a non-party sense, just as in the preceding line in the article it is used in the phrase "Government receipts, and expenditure." The sentence might perhaps have been phrased otherwise, but I can hardly think that the hon. Member really accuses the present Administration of claiming that it introduced free education.

Mr. Marlowe

Is not the reference in the pamphlet to the Government's policy, as contrasted with the previous Government's policy, intended to be a contrast between the present and some alleged, but mythical, bad old days? Does not the right hon. Gentleman agree that the taxpayer should not be called upon to subsidise Government propaganda, even if the statements are true, and that it becomes indefensible when the statements are untrue?

Mr. Morrison

This document is sent to overseas posts for their guidance; it is not, I think, for dissemination. The purpose is to show that Britain is a good country. I think that is a legitimate public purpose and that the hon. and learned Member has misread it, although I agree with him to this extent, that if I were writing the sentence, I would write it a little differently and I have picked up the point. But, in order to show hon. Members opposite how impartial it is, here is another heading: Edmonton, London, By-election Big rise in Tory vote.

Mr. Keeling

Will the Government make it clear that it is the taxpayers and not the Government who are paying for these benefits?

Mr. Morrison

I do not think we should under-estimate the intelligence of people in foreign countries. They know perfectly well that public expenditure is met out of public revenues.

Mr. Driberg

In any case, since the official spokesmen of the Opposition have repeatedly attacked the present Government for maintaining food subsidies and introducing other social benefits prematurely, would it not be perfectly fair for the present Government to take full credit for that policy?

Mr. Morrison

That is a fair submission, but, being perhaps over fair-minded and over scrupulous, I will not take advantage of it. I wish to goodness hon. Members of the Opposition when they go to foreign countries, would not say things against their own country.

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