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Ministry Of Information

Volume 388: debated on Wednesday 7 April 1943

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Jewish Broadcasts

44.

asked the Minister of Information how many times Jews have spoken in British radio programmes on behalf of Jewry since the outbreak of war?

I regret I cannot ask the B.B.C. to conduct the laborious inquiry suggested by my hon. and gallant Friend. But I can tell him that British subjects of every denomination have spoken in the programmes of the B.B.C. in denunciation of the vile treatment of Jews in Germany.

I am sure my hon. and gallant Friend will realise that invitations are given by the Governors of the B.B.C. and not by the Government. If he applies to the Governors, I am sure they will consider his application sympathetically.

Beveridge Report (Talks)

66.

asked the Minister of Information whether it is the policy of his Department to authorise Ministry of Information speakers to give talks at public meetings on the Beveridge Scheme for Social Security?

I must refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 24th March in reply to the hon. Member for East Wolverhampton (Mr. Mander).

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether it is the practice of his Department to authorise the official speakers of the Ministry of Information to give talks on the Beveridge Report?

I gave a most comprehensive answer to the hon. Member for East Wolverhampton, and it would really be tautological for me to add to it.

That answer applied to some weeks ago. I am asking whether his Department is authorising talks on the Beveridge Report now.

The hon. Member is asking that Question, and I cannot add anything to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for East Wolverhampton.

Propaganda (By-Elections)

67.

asked the Minister of Information whether he will consider using some part of his powers of world propaganda in order to assure foreign peoples that British citizens do not express a desire for a termination or a weakening of the war effort when they record their votes at by-elections in favour of such candidates as believe that the British people would work and fight even more enthusiastically if they had an opportunity of looking forward to post-war prospects different from those offered by the present Government?

No, Sir. Perhaps the hon. Baronet will forgive me for suggesting that his interest in by-elections cannot justify his assumption that the Armed Forces of the Crown are not fighting with all the enthusiasm they possess.

Does the Minister realise that quite a lot of sincere and patriotic citizens do seem to share my views, and is it not part of his duty to try to present to the world the views and opinions of all sincere and patriotic citizens?

It is no part of my duty to use the British propaganda machinery to spread offensive observations about the Army.

Colonial Secretary's Speech, Oxford (Publicity)

68.

asked the Minister of Information whether he will circulate to such agencies and publicity organisations as may be available and to the newspaper Press throughout the Colonial Empire the speech delivered at Oxford, on 5th March, by the Secretary of State for the Colonies?

The admirable speech by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Colonies was well reported by all the principal news agencies.