HC Deb 14 February 1949 vol 461 cc768-9
22. Mr. S. N. Evans

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what instructions have been given to the British Information Services under his control as to giving publicity to the discovery of the drug antrycide; and what has been the result of such publicity.

Mr. McNeil

Information officers in foreign countries are under standing instructions to obtain maximum publicity for all important new British inventions and discoveries. Particular care was taken to ensure that wide coverage by the Overseas Press Services of the Central Office of Information was given to the announcement about antrycide, including a one-thousand word feature article on the development of the drug.

Mr. Evans

Is the Minister aware that the African tsetse belt is four times the size of Argentina, and that following the discovery of this drug a healthy cattle population exceeding 30 million can be anticipated? Having regard to the fact that it will be of particular interest to South America, will he take all the steps open to him to see that the news is fully conveyed?

Mr. McNeil

Vigorous steps were taken, but I must confess that publication was a little patchy. Some of the Argentine Government papers did not seem to publish it as widely as non-Government papers.

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