HC Deb 16 March 1970 vol 798 cc24-5
35. Mrs. Knight

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications how much money has been expended for advertisements in the Press, on poster sites and on television, publicising various aspects of the work of his Department in the nine months from 31st March to 31st December, 1969.

Mr. Stonehouse

In the three months after 1st October, 1969, when my Department was established, £90,000 on publicity connected with the campaign to reduce licence evasion and £200 on recruitment publicity.

Mrs. Knight

Will the right hon. Gentleman take it from me that members of the public are now very well aware that they can telephone their friends after 6 p.m. and at weekends at a cheap rate, and that it is infuriating for people who cannot afford to pay the high telephone rental charges to see money being expended on half and quarter page advertisements in the daily Press on the subject?

Mr. Stonehouse

With respect, the hon. Lady is becoming somewhat confused between the advertisements sponsored by my Ministry and those sponsored by the Post Office Corporation, for which I no longer have direct responsibility. I think that we must leave it to the Post Office to get on with its job.

Mr. Bryan

Is the Minister aware that Government advertising has increased by 250 per cent. since 1964 and the advent of this Government? Can he say by what extent Post Office advertising has increased?

Mr. Stonehouse

As I have indicated, the Post Office Corporation has commercial responsibility, and it must be left to get on with the job of organising its own advertising campaigns. My original Answer was related to the licence evasion campaign. The hon. Gentleman, whose party did nothing about evasion when it was in power, should not complain that we are now dealing with it effectively.

Mr. McNamara rose

——

Mrs. Knight

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the Minister's replies, I beg to give notice that I shall seek to raise the matter on the Adjournment.

Mr. Speaker

Order. The hon. Lady has ruled out another hon. Member's supplementary question.