HC Deb 13 December 1954 vol 535 cc98-9W
105. Mr. Mayhew

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what action he is now taking to implement the recommendations of the Drogheda Report.

Mr. Turton

After meeting rising costs Her Majesty's Government provided about £100,000 in this financial year for the expansion of the overseas information services. Next year they propose to make similar provision. With this additional money, combined with some reallocation of existing resources, Her Majesty's Government propose to carry out the following programme:

  1. 1. Some strengthening of the information services in South-East Asia, the Middle East, Latin America, and in Canada. The three information offices established in the current financial year at Lagos, Accra and Port of Spain will be brought into full operation.
  2. 2. Improvement of the Central Office of Information Press service, and in the supply of films for use overseas, particularly for television.
  3. 3. Strengthening of British Council offices in South-East Asia and Japan, establishment of new offices in Kuwait on the Persian Gulf and in British Honduras and the reopening of an office in Persia.
  4. 4. Full participation by Her Majesty's Government in the growing cultural activities of the Brussels Treaty Organisation and of the Council of Europe.