§ Q8. Mr. Bakerasked the Prime Minister if Her Majesty's Government will make a contribution to the Feed the Minds Campaign; and if he will make a statement.
§ The Prime MinisterNo, Sir. The object of the campaign which we welcome is to raise funds to supply books and other reading material with a Christian background to people in developing countries. We are glad to co-operate with the Christian churches in many enterprises, but we already have extensive schemes to help to meet the educational needs of the developing countries.
§ Mr. BakerWould not the right hon. Gentleman agree that the best possible means of countering Communist propaganda would be to increase the dissemination of Holy Writ? Would not he reconsider his statement?
§ The Prime MinisterI think this cause a very worthy one and some of us were concerned in the ceremony to launch its activities. I think that the hon. Gentleman is devaluing Holy Writ if he thinks that its only purpose is to counteract political propaganda.
§ Mr. DribergIs my right hon. Friend aware that, contrary to what the hon. Member for Banff (Mr. Baker) says, the New Testament, the major prophetic books of the Old Testament, and particularly the Acts of the Apostles, are full of the most dangerous and subversive Communist propaganda?