§ 49. Mr. Lionel Healdasked the Prime Minister what duties he has assigned to the full-time Public Relations Officer recently appointed to No. 10 Downing Street; and, in particular, what responsibility such duties will include for election messages or other party propaganda issued in the name of the Prime Minister.
§ The Prime MinisterThe post of Adviser on Public Relations to the Prime Minister has been filled following the recent death of Mr. Philip Jordan. The present holder of the post will perform the same duties as his predecessor and these arise from the day-to-day contacts of the Press with the Prime Minister's office. The Adviser is a civil servant and he has no responsibility for election messages or other matters concerning the Labour Party as such.
§ Mr. HealdWould the right hon. Gentleman reconsider that decision in view of the recent report in "The Times" of an election message sent to Westhoughton in the name of the right hon. Gentleman accusing the Opposition of obstruction during the Finance Bill and in view of the flat contradiction of that accusation by the two Ministers in charge of the Bill and also by the action of the Government in putting down on the Report stage more than 2,000 words of Amendments and new Clauses to meet the points raised by the Opposition? Further, does not the Prime Minister think that more efficient vetting machinery is required at No. 10, Downing Street, in the interests of truth, honesty and fairness?
§ The Prime MinisterI do not know how the hon. and learned Member relates his supplementary to the Question on the Order Paper, unless his suggestion is that in future messages on Labour Party matters should be dealt with by a civil servant paid out of the taxpayers' money.
§ Mr. Godfrey NicholsonWill this officer include in his duties under the 1899 Prime Minister the giving of the necessary help to explain away the indiscretions of members of the Cabinet?