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Copy on Re/191/5/1
EXECUTIVE BOARD
Responsibility of Ministry of Information for Maintaining Supplies of News to the Public

1. Recent events have shown that some uncertainty exists as to the scope of the Ministry's responsibilities in maintaining a proper supply of news to the public. The immediate occasion has been the local breakdown of the normal methods of supply of news to the Provincial Press. Newspapers have applied for assistance and the brunt of the responsibility has been borne by R.I.O.'s. It is not easy to explain why the resources of Whitehall, if properly applied, cannot restore a news service to a newspaper, or contrive another, in all circumstances.

2. The only pronouncement of policy on the subject is that stated by Mr. Pick at a meeting of the R.I.Os held on 1st November last. The relevant extract from the minutes is as follows:-

“(a) The Director General ruled that as the consequence upon public morale might be serious if the Press were unable to appear in a region owing to breakdown of communications in an emergency, it was the business of the Ministry to insure against such an eventuality. Regional Information Officers should therefore in an emergency take every step to assist the Press to obtain news. Resort should not be had to emergency news bulletin to be duplicated and issued through local Information Committees until all other means of maintaining the ordinary dissemination of news had been exhausted.

(b) Where in an emergency the P.A. system broke down in a Region, the Regional Information Officers should first render all assistance in attempt to obtain news locally from other newspapers or agencies contiguous, or by any other means likely to secure the supply, but where this was not possible, they should inform Headquarters. It would then be the responsibility of Communications Division, using every available resource and agency, to get the news through to the Region.”

This statement does not make clear the limitations of our assistance, and would appear to involve us in indefinite commitments.

3. It is suggested that the following are guiding principles:-

(1) It is a primary responsibility of the Ministry to see that the public are informed without delay of all necessary matters of public importance relating to the national war effort (i.e. Official news bulletins).

(2) Existing age [illegible] fullest capacity and no[illegible] longer able to function. In so far [illegible] primary responsibility to see that the [illegible] essential part.

(3) It is an interest, but not a [illegible] the Press should be enabled to maintain [illegible] national news not covered by (1) above.

(4) It is an obligation arising from the [illegible] (1) above that due regard should be had to the [illegible] the B.B.C. side by side.

4. Taking the first three statements in turn.

(1) This responsibility is normally discharged by the issue of official news bulletins to the Press and the B.B.C. In the event of total failure of both, short bulletins can be sent to all Post Offices in the United Kingdom by telegraph, and displayed in the windows (the final stages of this distribution may take 24 hours) In the event of all these methods proving impracticable the Regional Information Officers will issue bulletins from whatever sources he can use, and endeavour to get them to the public by whatever means are available, including local relay wireless systems, loud-speaker vans, posters, etc.

(2) The B.B.C. have a scheme of emergency operation drawn up in conjunction with the Ministry: this need not be further referred to. In so far as the Press is one of several methods by which (1) may be discharged, it is not an absolute responsibility that all bulletins should be got through to every newspaper. All the methods taken together play an essential part, and each (with its emergency schemes) stands behind the other. The B.B.C. emergency arrangements are thought to be satisfactory: the Press arrangements (discussed later) are being improved. It is thought that the position under this head is now satisfactory, and will shortly be better.

(3) This is the point which gives rise to greatest difficulty. Some of the Press claim that the Ministry is pledged to maintain the Provincial Press in a state of pre-war efficiency, and interpret this as a duty to deliver to them an incoming national news service (i.e. both official bulletins and general national material) if their normal channel fails. This responsibility would lead to endless commitments. Considerations (3) and (4) have however operated in the past and it would seem inconsistent not to take a share in the safeguarding of the existing system, even to the extent of spending money.

5. The main deficiencies brought to light so far are:-

(a) a lack of certain important tie-lines to provide alternative P.A. services to certain regions. These have to be rented from the G.P.O.

(b) a lack of local information as to alternative methods available, if normal channels break down.

(c) a lack of local or national cooperation in pooling of news service and publishing facilities (e.g. P.A., Westminster Press, Allied Newspapers, etc.)

6. The Ministry of Information can take certain administrative action both at Headquarters and in the Regions to assist. As to [illegible] ve been consulted and have advised that the leasing [illegible] 5,000 [illegible] equired to make the existing [illegible]nst [illegible] cal damage. The Press [illegible] been willing to pay. In view of the [illegible] it was thought advisable to earmark these [illegible] with the Press Association the question of [illegible] (b), useful information has been collected and [illegible] O.’s. Mr. Will has agreed to nominate for each [illegible]s representative with technical knowledge with [illegible] the local G.P.O. representative can review local [illegible]ure will also deal with the local aspect of (c). [illegible]is now being considered by the Press Association [illegible]ety jointly, in conjunction with the Ministry.

[illegible] scope of these measures is strictly limited. They will [illegible] the security of the existing systems, and may engender mutual [illegible] confidence between R.I.O.’s, the Press and the G.P.O. They do not guarantee immunity from temporary breakdowns or longer interruptions 253 - 3 -to their own news services arising from major accidents which put the Press Association headquarters or other focal points out of action. Even if the P.A. had the right to Government priority for their messages, the problem would not he solved, although the trouble might be mitigated: in any event, the G.P.O. would not agree to the use of Government priority for that purpose, as opposed to the transmission of official bulletins between Headquarters Ministry of Information and the R.I.O.: to safeguard the position further a wireless service would have to be organised: the B.B.C. have been approached to assist but have objected. The G.P.O. are being approached, but they are not certain that it is technically possible for them to help. Unless this can be done, the Provincial Press may, in some locality, and for a limited time, be in the position of the general public, and can be guaranteed for that period no more than the Ministry affords under (1) above (i.e. access to news bulletins broadcast by the B.B.C., and confirmatory reference to the R.I.O. The action taken under 6 above will go far to ensure that the time will not be so protracted as to affect local morale.

8. If the general lines of this paper are approved, it is proposed to continue the negotiations referred to, and to issue appropriate guidance to the R.I.Os.

E.H.T.W.

14.1.41.