62. Mr. De la Bèreasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury in view of the need of effecting economies in the total number of civil servants, what steps he is taking to reduce the staff of the Central Office of Information.
§ Mr. JayThe staff of the Central Office of Information is kept under constant review, and during the past year has been reduced from 1,723 to 1,548, a fall of 10 per cent. A further fall is expected. The hon. Member will realise that the size of the Central Office, as a common service Department, must be related to the volume of work it has to do for other Departments.
Mr. De la BèreMay we have an assurance that the Central Office of Information will not be used purely for propaganda for the Government, because that is what is alarming most hon. Members in all parts of the House.
§ Mr. JayNo, Sir, that never has been the case, and I do not think ever will be under any Government.
§ Captain CrookshankWhy does the hon. Gentleman say, "A further fall is expected"? It must happen as the result of action; the number will not just fall away.
§ Mr. David RentonIs the Financial Secretary aware that when he refers to this as a common service Department he is overlooking the fact that most Departments have their own public relations officers and that the duties of the Central Office of Information overlap? Would he bear that in mind in any further reduction of staff?
§ Mr. JayNo, Sir, it is well known that there are certain activities where it is important to make use of a central Department. There is no overlapping.
§ Mr. MarloweCould not the hon. Gentleman ask some of the gentlemen from the Ministry of Civil Aviation to go to the Central Office of Information and turn the lights out there?