§ Q4. Mr. Peytonasked the Prime Minister if he will state the rules governing the publication by his advisers of books on subjects within the area of their official responsibility.
§ The Prime MinisterMy advisers are subject to the normal rule that civil servants who wish to publish a book upon a 339 subject connected with their official duties must obtain the previous consent of the head of their Department.
§ Mr. PeytonI am very grateful for that Answer, but may I ask the Prime Minister whether he is aware that I put the Question down when I first heard of Dr. Balogh's book, "The Economics of Poverty", and then unreasonably but hopefully assumed that it might contain an explanation of the economic policies of the present Government?
§ The Prime MinisterSince my Answer made it clear that these rules require consent by the head of the Department, since this book was written a very considerable time ago, and since he had consent, the point raised by the hon. Gentleman does not arise. But as he has taken such a deep interest in this, I hope that he will read the book right through. He will learn a lot from it.