HC Deb 01 April 1968 vol 762 cc13-4
11. Mr. Marten

asked the Secretary of St to for Foreign Affairs what restrictions are placed on the use of the graint-in-aid of £7,500 made to Britain in Europe Limited of Chandos House, S.W.1.

Mr. Mulley

Britain in Europe Limited receives its grant-in-aid to assist in promoting a proper understanding in Europe of the British point of view on European affairs. It can only be used for that purpose.

Mr. Marten

Does the right hon. Gentleman think that it is a suitable arrangement that an organisation such as this receiving a subsidy such as this from the taxpayer, should harbour in its premises a party political organisation, namely, the Labour Into Europe Movement in the same office? Is this very sensible?

Mr. Mulley

I take it that the hon. Gentleman does not dissent from the view that the grant would otherwise be acceptable, except for the question of the tenancy of the building. I will make inquiries about that, but I am sure that none of the grant that we give for expenditure in Europe is in any way connected with the rent, in the way that he suggests.

Mr. Jay

Whatever the facts are about this organisation, is it not completely wrong that public money should be used to subsidise private propaganda of this kind? Is not this a most obvious case for a little bit of economy in public money?

Mr. Mulley

As my right hon. Friend will know from the Estimates, a considerable number of bodies receive grants-in-aid from the Government, and have done over a number of years, in order to support their objectives. This is a very practical way of carrying on information services at a time when such services, for reasons of stringency in public expenditure which my right hon. Friend has indicated, are under strain. The arrangement is generally satisfactory.