§ Q7. Mr. Berkeleyasked the Prime Minister if he will transfer responsibility for British information services overseas to the Minister without Portfolio.
§ The Prime MinisterNo, Sir.
§ Mr. BerkeleyWhile appreciating the decisiveness of that reply, and while not disparaging the admirable work being done by my right hon. Friend the Secretary for Technical Co-operation, may I ask the Prime Minister to consider whether there is not perhaps a conflict in our right hon. Friend's two rôles—the presentation and co-ordination of British propaganda overseas and the provision of technical aid for under-developed countries? Will the Prime Minister reconsider this matter, since the Minister without Portfolio, who is responsible now for co-ordinating home information services, has an undoubted flair which might be employed in presenting Britain's case overseas?
§ The Prime MinisterThis is a matter of organisation, and it is always difficult to reach the right answer. I have considered this matter, and this seemed to be the most suitable arrangement. Overseas Ministers are responsible, and must remain responsible, for the information work of their Departments and the necessary co-ordination activities seemed to me to fit well in with the responsibilities of the Secretary for Technical Co-operation. There is also the advantage that much of his time is necessarily spent overseas, and this enables him to keep contact with the appropriate organisations abroad.
§ Mr. MayhewIs the Prime Minister aware that, quite apart from Departmental Ministers who have their own responsibilities, there are four Ministers —the Secretary for Technical Co-operation, the Minister without Portfolio, the Economic Secretary to the Treasury and the Financial Secretary to the Treasury —who are specifically concerned with the co-ordination of Government information? Who co-ordinates the co-ordinators?
§ The Prime MinisterI try to.