HC Deb 18 July 1950 vol 477 cc154-5W
72. Mr. G. Cooper

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury how many factory lecturers there are on the staff of the Central Office of Information; how many factories a week they visit each: if he will give a list of some of the subjects on which they talk; and what reports there are indicating the extent of the response to the information given.

Mr. Jay

There are no lecturers on the staff of the Central Office of Information; there is a panel of fee-paid lecturers, of whom about 20 give talks in factories. Some 40 talks a week are given, at the request of the factories. The principal subjects are: (a) The economic situation; (b) the Commonwealth (including Colonial Territories); (c) Western Union. Those responsible for organising the factory meetings are asked to send in a confidential report; about 80 per cent. do so, nearly always in favourable terms. It is not possible to assess in isolation the results of the talks: they form part of the general programme of information.