HL Deb 10 December 1947 vol 153 cc109-10
LORD MANCROFT

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the question standing in my name on the Order Paper.

[The question was as follows:

To ask His Majesty's Government, whether it is their intention to improve and expand the British Information Centre in Berlin.]

LORD AMMON

My Lords, on behalf of my noble friend Lord Pakenham, who is at present in Germany, I beg to reply to this question. New premises for the British Information Centre in Berlin have been selected. These will make possible a full range of activities of an information and cultural nature, and will be a great improvement on those used at present. The necessary constructional work is proceeding, and it is hoped that the new Centre will be open in February of next year.

LORD MANCROFT

My Lords, in thanking the noble Lord for that very satisfactory reply, may I ask His Majesty's Government to ensure that this new British Information Centre, in presenting the British way of life to the German people, does not lag behind the Americans and the Russians as it so unfortunately has done in the past?

LORD AMMON

I have no hesitation in giving that assurance.