asked the PrimeMinister whether he will now consider in structing all Departments to dispense with their Public Relations Officers, permitting in their place the staffs of the Press to obtain and publish their own unbiased reports of the actual performances of the several Departments.

No, Sir. There is no intention of dispensing with information officers regarding whose functions the hon. Member seems to be misinformed. So far from hindering the Press, their work is essential to the expeditious handling of Press inquiries.

In the face of the ever-lasting complaints about the shortage of manpower, and the exhortations of so many Ministers to everybody to work harder, how can the right hon. Gentleman justify this waste of manpower at the present time?

I do not accept the assumption that it is a waste of manpower. On the contrary, I have been assured by journalists themselves that these information officers are extremely helpful.

Mr. De la Bère:

Is it not a fact that the taxpayers' money is being used for this purpose, which is nothing more or less than Government propaganda, which is often wide of the truth, and very harmful to all those who read it?

Does not the work of these officials avoid a waste of the time of administrative officers?

That 15 quite true.

Will the right hon. Gentleman issue instructions that the growing practice of civil servants holding Press conferences should be discontinued?

I should like to have notice of that question.