HC Deb 27 September 1939 vol 351 cc1348-9W
Mr. Glenvil Hall

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Information whether he will furnish a list of the persons employed in his Department and their previous occupation in each case?

Sir E. Grigg

My Noble Friend does not consider that he could reasonably undertake to collect and give the information asked for in respect of the whole of the staff of the Ministry. I would, however, refer the hon. Member to the reply given on the 7th September by my right hon. Friend the Lord Privy Seal to the right hon. Gentleman the Deputy-Leader of the Opposition, which contains the names of all the principal members of the Ministry staff at that time.

The following additions and alterations have been made since that reply was given:

Sir Findlater Stewart, Permanent Under-Secretary of State for India, has been appointed Director-General of the Ministry in place of the Right Honourable the Earl of Perth, who has become Chief Adviser on Foreign Publicity; and the Right Honourable Lord Camrose has accepted the post of Chief Assistant to the Minister and Controller of Press Relations. The Honourable Esmond Harms-worth has resigned the post of Director of News and Press Relations, which remains vacant for the present, and has accepted aseat on the Advisory Council.

Mr. Ivison Macadam has been appointed Assistant Director-General, and the posts of Director of Co-ordination and of Director of Literature and Art have been abolished. Sir Kenneth Lee has been appointed Director of the Radio and Communications Division. In order to free the Deputy Director-General from Divisional responsibility, Mr. E. St. J. Bamford of the Treasury has been appointed Director of the Administration Division.

My Noble Friend, as I informed the House yesterday, is considering closely the whole question of the staffing of the Ministry.

Mr. Lyons

asked the Minister of Labour what part of the staff of the Ministry of Information was recruited through the central registry of his Department?

Mr. Assheton

The Ministry of Information notified 25 vacancies to the Central Register and I understand that the names submitted from the Central Register are under consideration by the Ministry.