§ 3.5 p.m.
§ LORD STONHAMMy Lords, I beg to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government if they will now state their policy for increasing the distribution and sale overseas of British books and periodicals, particularly in countries where there are sterling difficulties.]
§ THE JOINT PARLIAMENTARY UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (THE MARQUESS OF LANSDOWNE)My Lords, noble Lords will remember that, in reply to a similar Question put by the noble Lord, Lord Stonham, on December 8 last, I replied that Her Majesty's Government were fully aware of the need to increase the export of books and were giving consideration to the measures which are needed to promote this. The White Paper on Overseas Information Services (Cmd. 685) presented to Parliament on March 2 stated at paragraph 13 that
The Government are studying ways of encouraging the flow of British publications overseas.Her Majesty's Government share with the noble Lord, Lord Stonham, the belief in the importance of this matter, and as soon as the study is completed a statement will be made.
§ LORD STONHAMMy Lords, is the noble Marquess aware that the White Paper to which he has referred is a splendid job, which should give the greatest possible encouragement to everyone in the country, irrespective of Party, but that it is marred by the failure to come to a decision on this vital question of books? Is he further aware that the moment the Prime Minister landed in Moscow he told the Russians that we were not the Britain of Dickens' day? But that is exactly 1118 what the Russians are spreading abroad. If we can spend £1,500 million on defence, surely we can spend £1,500,000 in an effort to capture men's hearts and minds. Cannot we overcome the technical difficulties in exactly the same way as the Americans have overcome them?
§ THE MARQUESS OF LANSDOWNEMy Lords, I will pass on, and I am sure that my right honourable friend will be encouraged by the words of the noble Lord, Lord Stonham. As I said in my original Answer, Her Majesty's Government share the believe in the importance of this matter, and let me once again assure noble Lords that as soon as it is possible to make a statement, that statement will be made.
§ LORD STONHAMMy Lords, if I had been born female, my middle name would have been Patience. I raised this subject four months ago. It is very important, and I hope that these technical difficulties can soon be solved.
§ THE MARQUESS OF LANSDOWNEMy Lords, I am sure we all appreciate the patience shown by the noble Lord, and we must all share in that patience. As the noble Lord is aware, this is not an easy matter and work is actively being done on it at the moment, as noble Lords well know.