HC Deb 30 May 1960 vol 624 cc978-9
Mr. Mayhew

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many tours for resident correspondents of foreign and Commonwealth newspapers have been provided by the Central Office of Information during the past 12 months.

The Joint Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Robert Allan)

I have been asked to reply.

In the financial year 1959–60 the Central Office of Information provided twelve tours for resident correspondents of foreign newspapers and nine tours for resident correspondents of Commonwealth newspapers.

Mr. Mayhew

Will not the Minister agree that that is a very small number and that this is one of the best and least expensive methods of getting accurate information about this country into the overseas Press? Will he look into this to see whether he ought not to expand the service?

Mr. Allan

My right hon. Friend is very much aware of what the hon. Gentleman says, and in the last year it has been rather more than doubled. I remind the hon. Gentleman that over and above that we did 317 tours for foreign and Commonwealth Press representatives from abroad.

Mr. Mayhew

But resident correspondents are a cheaper proposition and even better in many ways. I ask the hon. Gentleman to look into it.

Mr. Allan

It has already been doubled, and I know that my right hon. Friend is very interested.