HC Deb 18 October 1950 vol 478 cc2021-2
8. Mr. Shepherd

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the total amounts expended overseas in 1949 on information services conducted by British Embassies and overseas expenditure by the British Council.

Mr. Bevin

The total amounts expended for the financial year 1949–50 by British Missions and by the British Council on Information Services abroad were as follows: by British Missions, £1,337,346; by the British Council, £1,503,645.

Mr. Shepherd

Are these amounts not excessive when one realises that" they are very much greater than in 1939, when we had less regard for conserving foreign currency than we have now?

Mr. Bevin

I do not think so. One cannot carry on in this modern world without supplying people in other countries with information. I think that the information services are very economically run. During the last year I have tried my best to reduce them as much as possible, but with the problem we are up against in other countries, which is very formidable, real information from this end is very essential.

Mr. Shepherd

Does the Foreign Secretary not feel that people in foreign countries are influenced, not by propaganda handed out by public relations officers but by what we do and the actions we take as a nation?

Mr. Bevin

I do not think they know what we do unless we tell them.