HC Deb 03 February 1958 vol 581 cc783-8
1. Mr. Lipton

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he will make a statement on his activities to date in co-ordinating Government information services at home and abroad.

6 and 11. Mr. Ernest Davies

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) what progress has been made in implementing the proposals contained in the White Paper on the Overseas Information Services;

(2) what committees have been appointed to assist him in administering and co-ordinating the information services.

The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Dr. Charles Hill)

Yes, Sir. As the statement is rather lengthy, I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Mr. Lipton

Whilst thanking the right hon. Gentleman for that reply, may I ask him whether he will consider in future, rather than circulating the statement in the OFFICIAL REPORT, providing an annual report, because we are all interested in what he is doing, especially when he is unnaturally silent on the subject for such long periods?

Dr. Hill

It is rather more than six months since the White Paper was published, so I thought it right to circulate a fuller report than can be given in the House. I will consider the hon. Gentleman's suggestion.

Mr. Ernest Davies

Whilst appreciating the reasons for making the statement in the form of a circulated report, does not the right hon. Gentleman consider it would be fairer to the House if he made some sort of statement, even though it were only a summary of the statement which he proposed to circulate, so that questions can be put to him? The right hon. Gentleman is now at the top of the list with his Questions and may not be in a position to answer any further Questions for some weeks.

Dr. Hill

I think it best that the full and detailed statement should be examined. If the hon. Gentleman has any specific point to put, I will do my best to answer it.

Mr. Anthony Greenwood

It is a little more difficult when the right hon. Gentleman is circulating the statement for which we ask in that we do not get the opportunity of questioning him now. In order to allay anxiety, could the right hon. Gentleman assure us that the information being put out is genuine information, that it is not just propaganda and that the point of view of the Opposition is being presented as effectively and as adequately as that of the Government?

Dr. Hill

I can give the hon. Gentleman that assurance. I think he will find comfort in the statement which is being circulated.

Following is the Statement: The Chancellor of the Duchy's office has provided a Ministerial focus for regular contact and discussion on current and longer-term information problems, both among the home Departments and between them and the overseas Departments. In the absence of such a focus, the joint consideration of information questions by Departments had been more patchy and less effective than their co-operation in other spheres. The correction of the deficiency has been welcomed by Departments who regard it as helpful to the conduct of their work. At home, the main instrument of co-ordination is a meeting of chief information officers of Departments held twice weekly under my chairmanship. Working groups are set up to consider the information aspects of particular issues, for example the defence of the £, the projection at home of the Commonwealth and its significance, and British scientific and industrial achievements. The aim is to provide the public with as much information as possible, as quickly as possible, through the normal channels of communication. I keep in touch with the Press and publicity organisations and others who are interested in helping to stimulate the flow of information at home and abroad. Abroad, the expansion of the official information services is proceeding, with due regard to the need for economy in Government expenditure. In the Commonwealth, a new post is being opened shortly in the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland and additional posts in certain important provincial cities in Canada and in Malaya. The staffing of the existing posts in Australia, India, Pakistan, Ceylon, Ghana and Malaya is being strengthened. Appointments have been made to new information posts in East Africa and Singapore and arrangements are being made to open new posts in the Regions of Nigeria. The programme of visits to the United Kingdom from the Commonwealth has been increased. Information staffs and facilities have been increased in Burma and the Persian Gulf and the building-up of staffs and facilities in Morocco and Tunisia has begun. The Overseas Press Services of the Central Office of Information carried by wireless have been extended to Australia; the hitherto combined service to India, Pakistan and Ceylon has been separated into two distinct services (one for India and Ceylon and another for Pakistan) and improved methods of transmission are being introduced. Through information officers these services reach editors in some 90 territories. The amount of industrial, commercial and scientific material in the other C.O.I. Press services is being increased. Television films now go regularly to 25 countries and some material to 15 more. Television interview films (televiews) and news films are sent to the United States, Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Cyprus, Bermuda, all Latin American countries with television, and Iraq. The photographic, reference and publication services of the C.O.I. have been expanded. In Command Paper 225 special emphasis was laid on the importance of the British Council's work, particularly on its responsibilities in the teaching of English. The Council is increasing its work in Burma, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, the Persian Gulf, Latin America, the Sudan, Thailand, Turkey and Yugoslavia. In the Commonwealth, there is to be a similar expansion in South Africa, India, Pakistan and Ceylon. The Council's work in connection with visitors from abroad is also being expanded. The rearrangement of the external services of the B.B.C. is nearing completion. The increased services in Hausa, Swahili and Somali are expected to begin shortly.
3. Mr. Hector Hughes

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what steps he has taken to improve the co-ordination of Government information in and from Scotland and the organisations which exist for those purposes in England and Scotland, respectively.

Dr. Hill

I have studied the working of the Scottish Information Office on the spot in Edinburgh. A senior officer of the Scottish Departments, who is permanently stationed in London, attends the regular meetings of Government information officers held under my chairmanship. At these meetings, and by day-to-day contact between them, information programmes are exchanged and the information work of the various Departments in England and in Scotland is co-ordinated.

Mr. Hughes

What steps is the right hon. Gentleman taking to present information concerning Scottish interests to such bodies as the Brussels International Exhibition and other European bodies so that Scottish products can have the advantage of being advertised and perhaps, sold?

Dr. Hill

The hon. and learned Member will find, in connection with the Brussels Exhibition, both in the Government Pavilion and in the British Industry Pavilion, that the interests and products of Scotland are fully deployed.

4. Mr. Hector Hughes

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what are his plans for discharging his duties in relation to the co-ordination and propagation of Government information in the Colonies, Dependencies and independent realms within the Commonwealth, respectively; and how far they have progressed to date.

Dr. Hill

Special attention is paid to our information work within the Commonwealth. There are already United Kingdom information offices in all independent members of the Commonwealth; and existing information posts are being strengthened in many of the countries, and new offices opened in some. The information work of the Colonial Office is carried out partly through its own offices and partly through the information offices of Colonial Governments. The information work of the Colonial Office is being increased with the opening of some new offices and the strengthening of existing offices. For further details, I refer the hon. and learned Member to the statement which I am, with permission, circulating in the OFFICIAL REPORT in reply to the Question of the hon. Member for Brixton (Mr. Lipton).

Mr. Hughes

While thanking the right hon. Gentleman for that reply, may I ask him whether he is in a position to say what success those efforts of his Department have had in the Colonies, Dependencies and other countries mentioned in the Question?

Dr. Hill

It is always difficult for any oversea Department to gauge exactly the effect of its information service. If the hon. and learned Member has any particular point in mind, I shall be glad if lie will let me know.

5. Mr. Hector Hughes

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what particular steps he has taken to improve the co-ordination of United Kingdom Government information in Ghana, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, and Gambia.

Dr. Hill

I meet the information officers of overseas Departments fortnightly to discuss current tasks, to plan future work and generally to co-ordinate their activity. New information posts are shortly to be set up in the regional capitals of the Federation of Nigeria. The staff of the United Kingdom Office in Ghana is being strengthened and the scale of its work increased. There are no United Kingdom information posts in Sierra Leone or in Gambia.

Mr. Hughes

Will the right hon. Gentleman say why there is none in Sierra Leone and Gambia? Lest he should say that those countries are too small, may I ask him whether he is aware that there are opportunities for developing Scottish trade with Gambia and Sierra Leone? Is he further aware that European nations are making great headway in all the countries of West Africa in competition with British goods?

Dr. Hill

The hon. and learned Member put this question to my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies, and he answered the question in relation to Sierra Leone.

Mr. Rankin

Are any information offices being opened in Scotland? Does the right hon. Gentleman realise that there has been a demand for one there for a long while? In view of the fact that he has a great many in other parts of the Commonwealth, will he remember Scotland?

Dr. Hill

There is an admirable information office in Scotland, which deals not only with the information of the Scottish Departments but with that of the English Departments as well.