Ministry Of Information Cables (Censorship) 58. Captain Shaw asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Information whether he will inquire into the inefficiency displayed by the censor's department in the cable and wireless offices in London, resulting in cables being held up for hours, to the detriment of British trade; why a reply can be got from New York in under three-quarters of an hour, while the censorship of cables from British Dominions entails a delay of hours; and whether he will see that in this matter justice is done to those trading with the British Dominions? The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Information (Sir Edward Grigg) The only cables for the censorship of which the Ministry of Information has any responsibility are Press cables. I am aware that there have been instances of delay in the past but the cause has often lain elsewhere than with the censorship. Commercial cables are the responsibility of the Postal and Telegraph censorship, under the control of the War Office, and I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for War. Staff 59. Mr. J. Morgan asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Information the total number of staff now employed at the Ministry; and how many are professional journalists? Sir E. Grigg The total staff employed at the headquarters of the Ministry number 872, and in the regional offices 127. The number of journalists actually engaged in that profession at the time of their appointment is 26 at headquarters and 17 in the regional offices. In addition, there are in the news division 48 officers who were appointed because of their familiarity with the Press relations work of Government Departments or the B.B.C., combined in many cases wtih previous journalistic or broadcasting experience. Mr. Morgan Will the Minister kindly take note of the concern of this House at the statement he has just made and offer us at an early date a more satisfactory explanation of this preponderance of officials as against professional people who understand newspaper work? Sir E. Grigg My Noble Friend recognises that the situation requires investigation — Mr. Davidson It requires evacuation. Sir E. Grigg — and we are taking steps to enable this investigation to be made. The Treasury will be involved in the necessary review. Sir Percy Harris Can the Minister say who made these appointments? Sir E. Grigg They were made in every case after full consultation with Treasury representatives. Mr. Stokes Is it not a fact that a great proportion of the officials of the Physical Fitness Department have been transferred to the Ministry? Sir E. Grigg I should not like to answer from memory, but I am answering further questions on this point to-morrow, and if they do not give the hon. Member the information I hope he will repeat his question. 60. Mr. Stokes asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Information how many members of his staff have sufficient knowledge of the German language to qualify as interpreters? Sir E. Grigg A knowledge of German has not been laid down as a qualification for appointment to the staff of the Ministry. It would, therefore, not be possible to answer the hon. Member's question accurately without holding a special inquiry. If, however, the hon. Member desires to know whether the Ministry contains a sufficient number of German linguists to deal with all its requirements in that language, my Noble Friend can assure him that such is the case. Mr. Stokes The Minister says that he has sufficient members on the staff who understand the German language. I believe he has only one. Sir E. Grigg There are a number but I cannot answer without notice. Commander Locker-Lampson Will the Minister make use of any Members of Parliament who speak and understand German and French? News Bulletins 61. Mr. R. Gibson asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Information whether he is aware that the shifting of the time of the morning news bulletin on the wireless from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m. is a serious inconvenience to many workers in Greenock and elsewhere who must leave their homes before 8 a.m.; and whether he will take steps to have the earlier hour restored and to have the mid-day news bulletin at 12.30 p.m. instead of 1 p.m. so that workers may hear it during their mid-day meal hour? Sir E. Grigg The B.B.C. have under constant review the question of the timing of bulletins. The hon. Member will be glad to learn that arrangements have already been made to introduce an additional news bulletin at 7 a.m. as from 1st October next, and my Noble Friend is passing on to the Corporation the suggestion as regards the mid-day bulletin. Mr. Maclean Will the Minister kindly see to it that when these news bulletins are given out over the wireless they give us some news?