HC Deb 13 June 1951 vol 488 cc2294-6
45. Mr. Peter Thorneycroft

asked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that the Socialist Party, in the Monmouth Division of Monmouthshire, have been conducting their political campaign at public meetings with the assistance of films apparatus and operators, made available to them free through the Central Office of Information; and whether he will give an assurance that these facilities will not be made available to any political party for the purpose of its public meetings.

The Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations (Mr. Gordon-Walker)

I have been asked to reply.

Yes, Sir, I am glad to give that assurance. Mobile projection units have recently been provided at their request to both the Conservative and Labour Parties in Monmouth on the well-established understanding that they were not to be used at propaganda meetings. I am told that while no political speeches were made, some of the Labour meetings were open to the public. I am satisfied that these arrangements were made in good faith and that no harm was done. No political propaganda was made at these meetings. I have repeated the instruction that these film shows must be restricted to private meetings of party members in all cases.

Mr. Thorneycroft

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that I have never had anything to do with the Central Office of Information but these films were made available to my political opponent to advertise the public meetings and were used for the purpose of Socialist propaganda in my division? Is it not intolerable that public money should be used by any party for propaganda purposes?

Mr. Gordon-Walker

These films were made available to both the Conservative and Labour Parties. There was in this case a technical departure from the understanding that when this is done the party meetings must be closed to all but party members. In fact no political speeches were made at the meetings in question and they were attended almost entirely by Labour Party members. The hon. Gentleman said that he has had no contact with the Central Office of Information on this matter—

Mr. Thorneycroft

I did not say anything of the sort.

Mr. Gordon-Walker

I think the hon. Gentleman said it. In any case, if he did not say it I want to say what I was about to say.

Mr. Churchill rose

—

Mr. Gordon-Walker

If I may be permitted to complete my answer, the Conservative Central Office for Wales and Monmouth did tell the Welsh Office of the Central Office of Information about this. They were asked to supply details so that further inquiries could be made, and they have not done so.

Mr. Churchill

If my hon. Friend did not utter the particular sentence to which the right hon. Gentleman referred, how was it that it came to figure in his brief?

Mr. Gordon-Walker

Because I naturally supply myself with all the possible information to enable me to cope with all possible supplementaries.

Mr. Thorneycroft

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the slightest inquiry at all made by his local officers would have disclosed that over a period of weeks the campaign of my political opponent was based upon film shows which were put on free by this organisation, and if the rule is as the right hon. Gentleman stated, his officers have been extremely lax in this matter which is one of party prejudice?

Mr. Gordon-Walker

I totally deny that allegation. Of course, we have made inquiries and it is quite untrue that there was any sort of propaganda campaign.

Mr. Churchill

The right hon. Gentleman is not dealing with Tshekedi now.

Mr. Gordon-Walker

I happen to be dealing with the Question on the Order Paper. No political propaganda campaign at all was made around these film shows. There was, I admit, a technical breach in that some people other than Labour Party people were present at these meetings.

Mr. Thorneycroft

They were invited.

Mr. Gordon-Walker

A few attended. No political speeches were made at all. There has been a technical breach and I have taken steps to see that it will not happen again.

Mr. Peter Freeman

Is it not a fact that these films show the growing prosperity in Monmouthshire which seems to be regretted by the hon. Member concerned?

Mr. Gordon-Walker

The films are not political, and the same sort of films have been used by the Conservative Party in Monmouth.