§ Sir W. Smithersasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (1) if, in view of the fact that the circulation of the "British Ally" has fallen from 47,000 copies to 15,000 copies a week, he will take steps to cease its publication;
(2) what is the cost to date, and at an annual rate, of the paper "British Ally" to the British taxpayer.
§ Mr. Ernest DaviesUp to and including 1949 "British Ally" made a profit.202W So far from costing the British taxpayer anything, the paper has been earning revenue for the Exchequer in roubles. My right hon. Friend is not prepared to accept without further investigation the latest circulation figures quoted by the Soviet distributing agency and His Majesty's Ambassador at Moscow is being instructed to take the matter up with the Soviet Government.