§ 9. Mr. G. TERRELLasked the Secretary to the Treasury on what principle the placing of Government advertisements in the Press is regulated; whether he is aware that the provincial weekly papers have a grievance that they are not given a fair share of such advertisements; and whether he will take steps so that all papers, London and provincial, are, in regard to advertising, fairly and equitably treated?
§ The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the TREASURY (Mr. Montagu)I understand that the principle on which advertisements are placed is that those papers are selected in which experience has shown that their insertion yields the best results. I am aware that in certain cases newspapers are disappointed at not having received advertisements, but I cannot agree with the implication that the selection of papers on the above principle is otherwise than fair and equitable. Advertisements have, as a matter of fact, been placed with 429 provincial weekly papers.
§ Mr. ASHLEYWill the right hon. Gentleman say if the Treasury go upon the circulation of the newspaper?
§ Mr. MONTAGUThe matter is in the hands of various Press agents, who place advertisements according to the results achieved.
§ Mr. TERRELLWill the right hon. Gentleman furnish a list of the papers 1005 which are receiving all the advertisements? Is he not aware that a great many papers are complaining bitterly?
§ Mr. MONTAGUI can quite appreciate that newspapers would rather we considered the interests of newspapers, but we are considering the interest of the yield to the revenue.