BRITISH PUBLICITY

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 235, 1 July 1944, Page 8

BRITISH PUBLICITY

Debate In Parliament (Received June 30. 7 p.m.) RUGBY. June 29.

The Minister of Information. Mr. Brendan Bracken, opening the House of Commons debate on the Ministry of Information vote, said the Ministry was the set; rant of all Government departments in connexion with publicity campaigns, and its function was to co-ordinate publicity as a whole and give priority to the most urgent campaigns. He added: "Our object is to make use of.the restricted means of advertising, to keep the various campaigns running at the right time, and to make sure the public is not confused by too much exhortation.” Outlining the activities of the department, the Minister said the home sales of its publications exceeded 23,000.000, and there ,had been successful sales overseas. The Ministry’s film library had lent more than 100,000 films to borrowers at home and abroad in the past year. There were 120 outposts overseas and there were about. 90 oilier sections, mainly in the Dominions ami colonies, to which publicity mutter was sent. It was wrong to imagine that his department was engaged in distributing reduced nows from the battlefields. That was done by the great news agencies and the world Press. Nor did they deal with the raw meat of propaganda. It was their job to present, a steady picture of British life aud achievements.

Referring to the 8.8. C., the Minister said : “The 8.8. C. is heard with belief, and is without exaggeration regarded as the most, reliable news broadcasting service all over the world.” He said that today the R.A.F. with the United States Air Force dropped 73,5(10.01)0 leaflets monthly over occupied northern Europe and Germany. During D-Day and the night before more than 12,000,000 leaflets wore dropped. He considered the department had a record to be proud of.

Dr. Burgin (Liberal National) considered the story of British achievement should continue to be-told after the war. Tills did not come, in his view, under the responsibility of the Ministry of Information in the time of peace, lint was an adjunct to foreign policy and ought to continue to be dealt with as a department of the Foreign Oflice. Captain Gainmans (Conservative) thought nil the work and experience gained by the Ministry of Ilnformation should not be entirely lost after the war. Someoife had to present to the world the British view of life.

Mr.,Grain-ill (Independent Labour) thought, that if the 8.8. C. were to remain a monopoly after the war the House of Commons must keep control of it. 'file vote was agreed to.