HC Deb 14 December 1939 vol 355 cc1290-1W
Mr. Boothby

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Information whether he will consult with the British Broadcasting Corporation with a view to improving the quality of their news bulletins and propaganda both in English and in foreign languages?

Sir E. Grigg

The Ministry of Information is in the closest touch with the B.B.C., which is constantly concerned to maintain and improve the high quality of the material broadcast by it in all languages.

Mr. G. Strauss

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Information whether, in view of the resentment that exists in many neutral countries against the damage done to their interests by the action of His Majesty's Government in stopping German exports, he will consider taking advertisement space in the leading newspapers of those countries in order to set out clearly and sympathetically why His Majesty's Government have been forced to take this step?

Sir E. Grigg

His Majesty's Government have taken every opportunity to make known in neutral countries the reasons for the action taken by them to stop German exports, and are satisfied that these reasons are widely understood and appreciated. They are of opinion that in the circumstances there is no need to supplement the steps already being taken.