§ 1. Mr. Emrys Hughesasked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what steps he takes to co-ordinate the release to the Press of important statements of Government policy by Ministers.
§ The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Dr. Charles Hill)I would refer the hon. Member to the very full reply 650 I gave on 3rd February last, on this and other matters, to the hon. Member for Brixton (Mr. Lipton) and other hon. Members.
§ Mr. HughesCould the Minister explain why The Times is so inconsiderate in reporting the speeches of the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster? Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that recently he delivered a speech which I found in the Scottish edition of The Times which had given it three and a half inches, and that when I came to London I found that the whole speech had been omitted in favour of a news item headed, "Live Shell Found on Beachy Head"?
§ Dr. HillI am not responsible for the editorial decisions of The Times newspaper. It may be that that newspaper thought that readers in Scotland were more in need of the education I conveyed in the speech.