§ 47. Mr. Keelingasked the Minister of Defence what steps are taken by the Service Departments to counteract propaganda directed against voluntary service in the Fighting Forces.
§ Mr. ShinwellEvery opportunity is taken by the Service Departments to present the attractions of Service life and to emphasise the importance of service in His Majesty's Armed Forces both Regular and Auxiliary. The Service Departments through their public relations branches would take special action in suitable cases to answer deliberately hostile propaganda. The hon. Member will, however, recognise that the advantage may often lie in ignoring such propaganda.
§ Mr. KeelingAs the Minister knows, this question was inspired by a recent B.B.C. broadcast entitled "Man at War," which contained the innuendo that there is something shameful in teaching a soldier how to kill. Will he spare a word to condemn such pacifist propaganda?
§ Mr. ShinwellI have gone into this, but there are varying views about it, and it may well be that it has not done as much harm as the hon. Member thinks.
§ Mr. Emrys HughesCan my right hon. Friend say what answer his Department have given to the propaganda contained in the Sermon on the Mount?