§ 83. Mr. Skinnardasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies in which British Colonies in Africa there are Government Information Departments; which of them produce or sponsor journals or newspapers; what are the other functions of the departments; and whether he will make copies of their publications available to Members.
Mr. Creech JonesThere are Government Information Departments in all the African Territories. They issue regular bulletins of news and feature material either in English or local vernaculars or both, and either printed or cyclostyled, and in certain cases illustrated. The 283W functions of the Information Departments vary in emphasis from territory to territory, but in general are to assist in explaining government policy and plans to the public, to give technical assistance if required in departmental campaigns of instruction, to provide information about the territory for publicity use elsewhere, and to provide the public in the territory with information about developments in the United Kingdom. I am asking the Governments concerned whether they can provide copies of important Information Department publications published in English, in order that these can be made available to Members.