HC Deb 04 August 1942 vol 382 cc871-2W
Mr. De la Bère

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, with a view to obtaining the best men as public relations officers in Government Departments, he will confer with the Minister of Informa- tion with a view to setting up a panel of acknowledged publicists and news editors who would have instructions to treat as confidential the names of men coming before them and for whom they made recommendations, in view of the objection which is felt by candidates in letting their names be sifted by proprietors for whom they are working?

Sir K. Wood

As I informed my hon. Friend on 28th July, the Appointments Department of the Ministry of Labour and National Service, on being informed of a vacancy requiring journalistic qualifications, consults its Journalists Advisory Committee before submitting a list of candidates. I understand that discussions are now proceeding between the Committee and the Ministry of Labour and National Service on the working of the existing machinery, and I propose to await the outcome of those discussions. I have no knowledge of any objections such as the hon. Member describes.