§ Mr. Granvilleasks the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if, in order to avoid the spreading of rumour due to contradictory reports on recent air-raids on this country, he will consider the appointment of an official spokesman on home defence communiqués instead of handing out news unofficially or departmental directives to the Press.
§ Mr. H. MorrisonI share the hon. Member's desire to prevent the spread of unfounded rumour but I do not think that his suggestion would be effective for this purpose. Arrangements already exist whereby the Press are given all available information and can obtain confirmation or otherwise of reports, but the publication of information in the Press must be governed by the rules which have been made in the interests of security, and in most cases it would not be possible to use Press publicity to contradict rumours, without giving information which might be useful to the enemy. I do not think, therefore, that there would be advantage in the appointment of an official spokesman. If, however, I had any information which suggested that an unfounded rumour was gaining widespread currency I should be prepared to consider whether, with due regard to security considerations, a contradiction could be published in the Press.