HL Deb 21 March 1961 vol 229 cc1070-2

2.42 p.m.

LORD FARINGDON

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they are aware that the funds put at the disposal of the British Council in Addis Ababa are so limited that they are unable to pay for airmail transport of English periodicals—with the exception of The Times—and that in consequence their admirable work is handicapped.]

THE JOINT PARLIAMENTARY UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (THE MARQUESS OF LANSDOWNE)

My Lords, almost all daily newspapers are sent by air to the Information Office of Her Majesty's Embassy at Addis Ababa. The British Council sends about 105 specialised journals and other periodicals to its reading room in Addis Ababa. These are published at weekly, monthly, or longer intervals, and very few are printed in air-mail editions. The cost of despatch by air would be unreasonably high. As a matter of fact, in addition to The Times, three weekly journals—the Sunday Times, the Economist and the Manchester Guardian Weekly—are sent to the British Council's reading room by air.

LORD FARINGDON

My Lords, I thank the noble Marquess very much for that Answer, which is partially consoling, if I may say so. Would he agree with me that the provision of reading rooms is among the most important work that the British Council do? I wonder whether he would not find it possible to be even more generous towards these rather remote branches of the British Council, of whose work the provision of British periodicals in their reading rooms forms such a very important part.

THE MARQUESS OF LANSDOWNE

My Lords, I will certainly take note of what the noble Lord has said. Perhaps it is of some interest that the Information Office in Addis Ababa, as the noble Lord knows, is not actually in the Embassy itself but down-town, so that these newspapers are very readily accessible to the public. But I think the point he raises is not about Addis Ababa and that he is thinking of other parts of the world.

LORD FARINGDON

I am thinking principally of Addis Ababa, but these considerations must apply, as the noble Marquess is aware, to all the remoter branches of the British Council unless they have special provision to pay for air-mail services. For example, I am told that it takes seven weeks for periodicals to arrive in Addis Ababa, by which time they are a little out of date.

THE MARQUESS OF LANSDOWNE

My Lords, with all respect to the noble Lord, I think that perhaps the daily newspapers are not of such great importance and that we should pay more attention to the non-ephemeral publications.

VISCOUNT ALEXANDER OF HILLSBOROUGH

My Lords, if the noble Marquess will allow me to say so, I notice that a daily paper and a Sunday papers are sent by air. Apparently the opinions of the Opposition are not considered to be of sufficiently urgent importance to be sent to the office of the British Council in Addis Ababa. Why do they not send one Sunday Labour paper (there is only one) and a good Labour daily as well? Is it all to be left to the Conservatives?

THE MARQUESS OF LANSDOWNE

My Lords, as originally framed, the noble Lord's Question could not but make me wonder if opinions might not differ as to whether receiving only The Times was entirely a handicap.

LORD STONHAM

My Lords, following on the question of my noble Leader, could the noble Marquess say what is the basis of selection? The periodicals he has mentioned, quite apart from the educational content, are, by and large, the heaviest in weight. Yet they are the ones selected to go by air. Can the noble Marquess say what is the basis of selection: whether cost is one of the operative factors or on what other basis the periodicals should be selected?

LORD REA

My Lords, would not the noble Marquess agree that money would be saved if only Liberal publications were sent?

THE MARQUESS OF LANSDOWNE

My Lords, in reply to the perhaps rather more serious question, I think this subject is rather outside the original Question. I agree that it is an interesting and important matter but I do not think we can discuss it as arising out of the original Question.

LORD HAWKE

My Lords, would my noble friend tell me by what method of transport the corresponding Russian information gets to Addis Ababa?

THE MARQUESS OF LANSDOWNE

My Lords, I have no information on the subject but I will make it my business to inquire.