Function of Information Services in Government

Abstract

THE debate in the House of Lords on January 31, on Lord Elton's motion, regarding the setting up of an organization to assume after the War the responsibility for spreading knowledge of the British Empire, a duty which is at present undertaken by the Ministry of Information, touches one particular aspect of the wider problem discussed in the Political and Economic Planning broadsheet on "Government Information Services" issued a couple of days later. The debate, in which others besides Lord Elton paid tribute to the work of the Empire Information Service, amply demonstrated the need for such educational work, as well as the opportunities, and Lord Samuel and Lord Hailey lent powerful support to Lord Elton's plea that plans should be made for continuing the work of this unit if the general work of the Ministry of Information should be brought to an end. There was division of opinion as to how best this could be achieved. Lord Elton and Lord Hailey both suggested a form of Empire Publicity Board, with strong independent representation, in association with that of Government departments, and though Lord Cranborne in replying for the Government pointed out weaknesses in such a proposal, he indicated that the importance of the question is fully appreciated by the Government and that it has been for some time under the urgent consideration of the departments concerned.