"THE SILENT COLUMN."

HL Deb 01 August 1940 vol 117 cc91-2

5.12 p.m.

LORD DAVIES

My Lords, I beg to ask the first question that stands in my name.

[The Question was as follows:

To ask His Majesty's Government if they can state the total amount spent by the Ministry of Information upon advertisements urging His Majesty's subjects to join "The Silent Column," including any liability to which the Ministry may be committed by contract in respect of announcements not yet published; whether this column has now been disbanded and, if so, whether the salaries of those responsible for its initiation can be surcharged with the amount spent upon this enterprise.]

LORD SNELL

My Lords, in answer to the noble Lord, it has been one of the main functions of the Ministry of Information since its inception to discourage foolish gossip which may give any kind of information to the enemy. That applies also to the repetition of false rumour, which may stir up apprehension and panic; and to gloomy and defeatist talk calculated to lower the morale of the public. After the collapse of France, and reports received concerning the extent to which the intentional spreading of rumour had contributed to the German success, it was decided to intensify the campaign in this country against rumour. One of the methods adopted in this campaign was the use of advertisements of the phrase "The Silent Column." It certainly did not have the desired effect, and, as announced by the Prime Minister, the phrase will no longer be made use of; but it will, of course, remain one of the duties of the Ministry to do all in its power to discourage the spreading of rumour. I regret that it is impossible to state the actual amount spent on the advertisements which concerned the phrase "The Silent Column," as they were only part of the general campaign. The space which had been hired for that particular purpose was afterwards put to other uses. The phrase "The Silent Column" will no longer be used, but there is nothing to disband. I regret that my right honourable friend the Minister of Information is unable to accept the noble Lord's final suggestion.

LORD DAVIES

My Lords, arising out of the last part of the answer, may I ask what steps the Government propose to take to prevent the squandering of public money upon some of these fantastic appeals which emanate from the Ministry of Information?

LORD SNELL

My Lords, I hope the Government will always have an eye to economy, and I have faith that Parliament will put a critical eye upon expenditure.