CAB129-78 — Page 222

SECRET

C.P. (55) 195

9th December, 1955

Printed for the Cabinet. December 1955

CABINET

Page 222

Copy No.62

OVERSEAS INFORMATION EXPENDITURE

MEMORANDUM BY THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER

I am sorry to have to ask the Cabinet to consider once again the mounting total of expenditure on overseas information services. This must be read against the background of my recent paper on overseas expenditure (C.P. (55) 184). Even recently we have added to our overseas expenditure.

2. The Estimates figures for overseas information expenditure in recent years have been as follows:-

1951-52

1952-53

1953-54

1954-55

1955-56

£ 10,184,000

(plus subsequent supple- mentary of £100,000 for the B.B.C.)

9,928,500

9,976,750

10,231,700

10,495,950

3. The Estimates for next year as submitted to the Treasury show an increase over those for the current year of not far short of £2 million or 18 per cent., as the following figures show:-

(a) Original Estimates for 1955-56

(b) Add Possible Supplementary for B.B.C. External

Services

(c) Probable actual expenditure in 1955-56

£ 10,495,950

190,000

10,685,950

(d) Add in 1956-57:

(i) Expansion in existing services

240,000

(ii) Rising costs in existing services (iii) Capital expenditure

244,000

195,000

(iv) Middle East items:

British Council

300,000

Other information

130,000

Lebanon School

130,000

560,000

(v) Other commitments:

British Council (Overseas Students' Centre,

Madrid School, &c.)

Brussels Exhibition (instalment of total cost) Colombo Plan Exhibition

(e) Probable total of original Estimates for 1956–57