Mr. De la Bére:

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he will consider amalgamating the duties of public relation officers and Press officers in order to effect a saving in personnel.

The Press officer is subordinate to the information officer, whose duties cover a much wider range. The two posts could not normally be effectively combined. In cases where this is possible it is already done.

Mr. De la Bére:

Will the right hon. Gentleman explain to the House in very short form exactly what these officers do, because no one really seems to know?