§ LORD DAVIESMy Lords, I beg to ask the first question standing on the Paper in my name.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask His Majesty's Government whether they can state what proportion of the annual expenditure of the Ministry of Information is spent upon propaganda, censorship and other activities in Great Britain; what is the expenditure upon overseas services and staffs; and whether the expenses incurred by the British Council are included in this figure.]
§ VISCOUNT CALDECOTEMy Lords, at present about one half of the Ministry's expenditure relates to activities in this country. The expenditure on services and staffs overseas is now at the rate of£1,600,000 a year. This does not include expenses incurred by the British Council or by the Postal and Telegraph Censorship.
§ LORD DAVIESMy Lords, arising out of that reply may I ask the noble Viscount whether he could merge the activities of the British Council in those of the Ministry of Information?
§ VISCOUNT CALDECOTEI am not aware of any such proposal at the present time.