HC Deb 22 June 1959 vol 607 cc832-5

In the White Paper which the Government published in March, 1959, about the Overseas Information Services (Cmnd 685) it was stated that a study was to be made of ways and means of increasing the flow of British books and periodicals overseas. This study has now been completed.

2. It is natural that we should wish to see the widest possible readership for books and periodicals from the United Kingdom. British books are part of our national heritage. They can do much to help other peoples to understand our way of life and they can make a very real contribution to the life and thought of other nations.

3. Many countries have shown great interest in the facilities provided by the British Council in the teaching of English, and the Government have provided the Council with much larger financial resources for this work. But with more people learning English there is an ever-increasing demand for reading matter in English. We must do more to promote the flow of British reading matter overseas.

4. Other countries are already producing in great quantity, well-produced, attractive literature which is easy to read and inexpensive. This literature is aimed particularly at Asian and African countries. For example, it is estimated that almost 30 million books were produced by the Soviet Union alone for this purpose last year and a very high proportion of this total consisted of books in English.

5. It is true that British book exports through commercial channels are still larger than those of any country in the world. In 1958 exports totalled nearly £24 million, representing almost two-fifths of the turnover of (he United Kingdom book trade.

6. But there are several countries which, for currency reasons, impose substantial restrictions on imports of British books and periodicals and our exporters cannot make further headway in these markets.

7. There are two other major difficulties. First, the low individual incomes in many countries. Second, the lack of effective library and other distribution systems.

8. The Government have decided therefore to take the following steps to promote exports of British books and periodicals:

  1. (i) To enter into negotiations with various countries of special importance from our standpoint with the aim of establishing schemes to enable them to increase their imports of British books and periodicals. These schemes should operate broadly on the lines of the British Book Export Schemes which were established during the war and in the immediate post-war period. There are grounds for believing that a number of countries would welcome negotiations to this end.
  2. (ii) To promote the production of low-priced editions of a range of British books for sale in certain countries where there is a large unsatisfied demand for such books. This will call for substantial Government expenditure.
  3. (iii) The British Council expect to spend this year about £650,000 on their library services and presentations. The Government intend to authorise a further expansion of library services in several countries and to increase the Council's resources for presentations of books and periodicals abroad.
  4. (iv) To assist, through the British Council, in the development of library systems in a number of Colonial territories, including the 834 establishment of central libraries, regional branches, book vans and book boxes.
  5. (v) To co-operate with the periodical and newspaper publishers in measures to help them increase their circulations in some of the more difficult markets overseas.

9. Parliamentary approval for the expenditure involved will be sought at the earliest convenient opportunity.

10. It will be necessary to proceed in consultation with the Governments of the Commonwealth and foreign countries concerned. The House will appreciate, therefore, that I cannot give at this stage details of the arrangements which we hope to make. A good deal of negotiation will be needed in the coming months, but as soon as agreements have been concluded, I will inform the House.

11. I am grateful to the several Trade Associations, particularly the Publishers Association and the Periodical Proprietors Association, for the benefit of their advice and I am confident that they will co-operate closely with the Departments concerned in the development of this programme. I shall be informing them of the general lines on which we hope to proceed.

12. Given the full support of the publishing industry the Government are confident that these measures will lead to a substantial increase in the flow of British publications overseas.

5. Mr. G. M. Thomson

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what was the value of British book exports in 1958 to India, Pakistan, Ceylon, and Israel, respectively; and what proposals he has for increasing these exports.

Dr. Hill

The value of British book exports in 1958, as recorded in the Trade and Navigation Accounts, to the countries listed in the hon. Member's Question was:

£
India … … … 424,427
Pakistan … … … 39,950
Ceylon … … … 15,732
Israel … … … 9,473

These figures exclude books sent by parcel post.

In reply to the second part of the hon. Member's Question, I would refer him to the statement I have made today in reply to the hon. Lady the Member for Flint, East (Mrs. White) and others.

Mr. Thomson

Is the Minister aware that the small figures he has given underline the importance of the statement he has just made? Can he assure the House that all the countries mentioned in my Question will be the subject of negotiations with the United Kingdom Government?

Dr. Hill

I am aware of the lowness, particularly of three of these sets of figures. On the question of the countries, I would ask the House to forgive me if I do not name them, because I am anxious that negotiations shall begin with them before there is any public announcement of the countries.