Oral Answers to Questions — Ministry of Information. – in the House of Commons at on 18 October 1939.
Major Abraham Lyons
, Leicester East
asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Information how many officers, excluding clerical staff, in regional offices resigned before notice of cessation of these places was given; and the reasons tendered for such resignations, respectively?
Lieut-Colonel Sir Edward Grigg
, Altrincham
One regional officer so resigned. The reasons he gave were that he considered that the regional offices could achieve very little; that local committees were quite unnecessary; and that the staff was, in any event, in excess of requirements.
Major Abraham Lyons
, Leicester East
Will the hon. Gentleman tell the House, which regional officer tendered his resignation for the reasons expressed?
Lieut-Colonel Sir Edward Grigg
, Altrincham
I regret that I have not the information with me, but I would make it clear that I associate myself with the reasons given.
Major Abraham Lyons
, Leicester East
Will the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Information get from the Ministry of Information the information for which I have asked?
Lieut-Colonel Sir Edward Grigg
, Altrincham
I assure the hon. and learned Member that I will get it for him.
Major Abraham Lyons
, Leicester East
asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Information by whom and by what means of selection were employes of the British Council appointed to his Department; how many members of the Food Department were appointed to the Ministry of Information and at what salaries and differences; and what were their qualifications?
Lieut-Colonel Sir Edward Grigg
, Altrincham
For the first part of the question I would refer my hon. and learned Friend to the detailed answer which I gave him on 27th September. In regard to the second and third parts, one member of the staff of the Food Depart- ment was transferred to the News Division of the Ministry of Information, at his existing salary on the scale £550£650, to deal with the issue of news and inquiries from the Press relating to the work of the Food Department. He has now reverted to that Department under the reorganisation recently announced.
Major Abraham Lyons
, Leicester East
Was that unnecessary employment at the cost of the Food Department, or was this a case of one of the 999 people who were to be paid for under the new Department—the Ministry of Information? [HON. MEMBERS: "Answer."] Is that question unanswerable?
Sir John Kerr
, Combined Scottish Universities
asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Information in view of the important part played in modern warfare by science and in view of the importance of accuracy in public information regarding such matters, how many of the 190 members of the staff of the Ministry, of which particulars have recently made public, are university graduates in science?
Lieut-Colonel Sir Edward Grigg
, Altrincham
The information is not available and could only be obtained at an expense of time which I should not feel justified in giving to the inquiry. My hon. Friend will appreciate that scientific advice can be obtained whenever necessary from a large range of experts in Government service and outside it, and that it is therefore unnecessary to add on that account to the establishment costs of the Ministry.
Sir Rupert De La Bere
, Evesham
Who was responsible for the absolute absurdity of the staff appointments to the Ministry of Information?
Mr Herbert Williams
, Croydon South
asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Information whether members of the staff of the Ministry in receipt of salary are required to devote whole-time service to the Department and to refrain from party political activities?
Lieut-Colonel Sir Edward Grigg
, Altrincham
Except for two journalists and two translators engaged and paid on a part-time basis, members of the staff of the Ministry in receipt of salary are required to devote whole-time service to the Department. The Ministry, like other Government Departments, expects officers of all ranks to refrain from engaging in party political activities.
The House of Commons votes by dividing. Those voting Aye (yes) to any proposition walk through the division lobby to the right of the Speaker and those voting no through the lobby to the left. In each of the lobbies there are desks occupied by Clerks who tick Members' names off division lists as they pass through. Then at the exit doors the Members are counted by two Members acting as tellers. The Speaker calls for a vote by announcing "Clear the Lobbies". In the House of Lords "Clear the Bar" is called. Division Bells ring throughout the building and the police direct all Strangers to leave the vicinity of the Members’ Lobby. They also walk through the public rooms of the House shouting "division". MPs have eight minutes to get to the Division Lobby before the doors are closed. Members make their way to the Chamber, where Whips are on hand to remind the uncertain which way, if any, their party is voting. Meanwhile the Clerks who will take the names of those voting have taken their place at the high tables with the alphabetical lists of MPs' names on which ticks are made to record the vote. When the tellers are ready the counting process begins - the recording of names by the Clerk and the counting of heads by the tellers. When both lobbies have been counted and the figures entered on a card this is given to the Speaker who reads the figures and announces "So the Ayes [or Noes] have it". In the House of Lords the process is the same except that the Lobbies are called the Contents Lobby and the Not Contents Lobby. Unlike many other legislatures, the House of Commons and the House of Lords have not adopted a mechanical or electronic means of voting. This was considered in 1998 but rejected. Divisions rarely take less than ten minutes and those where most Members are voting usually take about fifteen. Further information can be obtained from factsheet P9 at the UK Parliament site.
