§ 2. Mr. A. Lewisasked the Minister without Portfolio to what extent, in exercising his responsibilities for coordinating the publicity on the Government's programmes and policies, he holds regular Press conferences; and whether he intends to hold such regular Press conferences during the Summer Recess.
§ Mr. DeedesI meet the Press regularly and I shall continue to be available to them during the Summer Recess.
§ Mr. LewisThat is a little more forthcoming than the previous Answer. When the right hon. Gentleman does this will he stick to purely Government information on facts and figures and not use the opportunity for political propaganda? As it is at the moment we can sometimes get Questions put to him, whereas if he makes political propaganda speeches to Press conferences during the Summer Recess we shall not be able to get at him in that period and, as he ceases his office in October, we shall never by able to question him again.
§ Mr. DeedesI should like to be quite clear about this. In the running of Government information services we take some pains in my office to do this impartially and if the hon. Member had any 455 cause for complaint, he would have complained before now. We shall continue to do this during the Summer Recess.