§ 25. Major Beamishasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what was the cost of administering the British Information Services in the United States of America during the last financial year; and what will be the estimated cost next year.
§ Mr. BevinThe total cost during the financial year 1948–49 was £223,068. The estimated cost during the current financial year, after allowing for the extra expense arising from the readjustment of the dollar-sterling rate, is £271,991. I am not yet in a position to state what the estimated cost will be for 1950–51.
§ Major BeamishWhile I recognise that the British Information Services have done some good work since the war, is the Foreign Secretary entirely satisfied that this very considerable and rising expenditure is really justified, and will he not consider returning to the pre-war system, which was less expensive and in many ways more efficient?
§ Mr. BevinIf some of those who are enemies of the country and the Government would not make such foolish statements in America, I could get this cost down.
Mr. Wilson HarrisCan the Foreign Secretary say how he is advised regarding the value of this service? Does the Ambassador take a personal interest in this important matter?
§ Mr. BevinYes, he takes a personal interest, but I can no more judge the value of that, than I can judge the value of the work of the constituency which the hon. Member represents.
§ Mr. DribergCould my right hon. Friend try to restrain the British Information Services from conveying misleading information to the American people, such as that contained in a pamphlet in which it was stated that the National Health Service and other social security services were introduced with the approval of all parties in this country?
§ Mr. Kenneth LindsayIs it not a fact that this comparatively small staff has done an enormous amount of good?
§ 34. Mr. Skeffington-Lodgeasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to what extent his instructions make the British Information Services responsible for countering inaccurate and tendentious statements about this country given currency by individual Americans or organisations in the United States of America.
§ Mr. BevinIt is the task of the British Information Services to see that information about this country is given without distortion to the people of the United States. An important part of this task consists in making available to the American Press and radio, and to influential Americans generally, material to counter inaccurate and tendentious statements of the sort that my hon. Friend has mentioned.
§ Mr. Skeffington-LodgeCan my right hon. Friend tell me whether this excellent organisation, of which I have recent personal experience, has done anything to refute the slanderous statements made about this country and its people by that 2012 cheapjack film magnate, Mr. Eric Johnston?
§ Mr. Sydney SilvermanCan my right hon. Friend say whether the task of the British Information Services in refuting inaccurate and tendentious statements is not considerably prejudiced by such statements as that made yesterday by a man in the important position of chairman of the dollar export group?
§ Mr. OsborneWill the Minister make it quite clear through the British Information Services that we on this side of the House at any rate do not think that the Americans are shabby moneylenders?