BRITISH INFORMATION SERVICES (Hansard, 31 January 1967)

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

§ THE MINISTER WITHOUT PORTFOLIO (LORD SHACKLETON)
My Lords, in view of the financial situation it was necessary to set in train, in 1966, certain economies both in current activities and in plans for future expenditure. These economies will ensure that, in spite of increased costs, the total expenditure on our overseas information services during the next financial year is contained at about the level of the current year's Estimates.
The cuts made include reductions both in the staff and activities of the British Information Services abroad and of the supporting services supplied by the Central Office of Information; withdrawal of British Council representation from certain posts and reductions in their expenditure at home and their capital expenditure, and cuts in the B.B.C.'s planned expenditure, involving a reduction in the hours of broadcasting of the Arabic Services and the closing of the Albanian Service, although there should in fact be an overall increase in broadcasting hours during the coming year.

§ LORD ALPORT
My Lords, may I ask the Minister whether he is able to publish, or can direct my attention to a place where I can find, the details of the cuts to which he has referred? And is he aware that the statement which he has made leaves me with the impression that 884 very serious inroads have been made into the efficiency of the British Information Services overseas during the last twelve months?

§ LORD SHACKLETON
My Lords, with regard to the first part of the noble Lord's question, I would point out that certain information has already been published with regard to the British Council's activities, and he will now have seen the statement in The Times. With regard to the other cuts, I should be very happy to give such information as it has been customary to give in the past. I would not agree with him that this represents serious inroads, since the level of expenditure is being held at about the same level as in the current year's Estimates. There has, however, been some measure of rearrangement and some increase in certain areas.

VISCOUNT MASSER EENE AND FERRARD
My Lords, is the Minister aware that all thinking people will deplore any cut in the overseas information services? May I remind the noble Lord that the pen is mightier than the sword?

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

§ LORD SHACKLETON
My Lords, the Government have asked Sir Harold Beeley to review our overseas information services, with special reference to the need to reconcile their effectiveness with the need to contain Government expenditure in all fields. In the meantime, as I have said, we plan to maintain expenditure during 1967–68 at about the present level.

§ LORD ALPORT
My Lords, is the Minister aware that at this time when we are reducing the effectiveness of our forces overseas it is most important that the British presence, in the shape of information services and diplomatic representation, should be maintained and indeed enhanced, particularly in relation to the trade effort which the Government are so insistent upon at present? Am I right 885 in supposing that the object of the investigation is in fact to introduce additional cuts after the end of the forthcoming financial year?

§ LORD SHACKLETON
My Lords, I cannot anticipate the outcome of the investigation. I share the noble Lord's views on the very great importance of these services. Certainly, it is not the intention of Her Majesty's Government to reduce drastically in areas of great importance. However, in a time when it is necessary to accept certain restrictions on foreign expenditure, selective cuts, based on the best judgment we can make, are in order. I would assure the noble Lord, as one who personally has been deeply interested in these services, that there is no drastic cut of the kind that he would fear. We shall await with interest what Sir Harold Beeley has to recommend in the future.

§ LORD ALPORT
My Lords, may I ask one further question: when is the Report likely to be available?

§ LORD SHACKLETON
My Lords, I am sorry I cannot answer the noble Lord as to when it will be available, but certainly I should hope within the next twelve months. But if I am wrong—it may be very much sooner—I will inform the noble Lord and, if he wishes, answer a further Question on the matter.