HC Deb 28 February 1952 vol 496 cc183-4W
102. Mr. Gordon Walker

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what means the Government employ, following his decision to abandon the lecture service of the Central Office of Information, to spread knowledge and information in this country about the Commonwealth; and how much money the Government is now spending for this purpose.

Mr. J. Foster

Publicity in the United Kingdom about other Members of the Commonwealth is a matter for their Governments and their official representatives in this country.

Her Majesty's Government is, however, most anxious to promote knowledge in this country of the Commonwealth as a whole, and to this end will continue to maintain close liaison with the Press, the B.B.C., and interested societies and organisations. Films about the Commonwealth will continue to be available from the Central Film Library, reference material from the Central Office of Information, and official publications on sale through the Stationery Office.

It is not possible to say what these activities will cost in the coming year, since the Central Film Library is being re-organised and the cost of the section containing films about the Commonwealth cannot be estimated.