HC Deb 17 July 1947 vol 440 cc80-2W
Mr. Nally

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what is the British equivalent publication in Moscow to the Soviet News published by the Press Department of the Soviet Embassy in London; what is the circulation of such equivalent publication; and if he will state, in general terms, the status of the individual Soviet citizens and Soviet organisations receiving it.

Mr. Mayhew

There is in Moscow no British publication equivalent to "Soviet News" since we do not publish a daily news-sheet for free distribution by mail to Soviet citizens and institutions. The British Embassy's weekly publication "British Ally" is equivalent rather to "Soviet Weekly." The circulation of "British Ally" is 50,000. It is sold at two roubles per copy and is distributed throughout the U.S.S.R. by the Soviet agency, partly through subscriptions and partly by sale over the counter. It appears to be read chiefly by the Soviet intelligentsia and especially by teachers in universities and technical institutes and by readers in factory and service reading rooms. The British Embassy in Moscow also publishes every two months "British Chronicle," a collection of authoritative articles from the British Press on scientific, medical and sociological subjects and of summaries of White Papers and Ministers' speeches. The circulation of "British Chronicle" is 2,000.