HC Deb 19 December 1967 vol 756 cc1085-6
Q4. Mr. Ford

asked the Prime Minister if he will appoint a Minister of Information.

The Prime Minister

I would refer my hon. Friend to the Answer I gave on 8th December, 1966, to a similar Question by the hon. Member for Banbury (Mr. Marten).

Mr. Ford

Is the Prime Minister aware that many of his hon. Friends feel that a central authoritative source of information would greatly assist with Press relations and would enable the Government to, for example, mount a buy British campaign to back up devaluation?

The Prime Minister

I think that the existing arrangements whereby Government decisions are notified to this House —and by other appropriate and well tried channels—are perfectly adequate in this matter. I am aware that former Governments have had Ministers specially charged with this duty, but experience of that has shown that there are better ways of communicating decisions reached by the Cabinet.

Mr. Onslow

Would the right hon. Gentleman care to say which Member of the Cabinet is now the "Minister for Misinformation"?