HC Deb 03 June 1924 vol 174 cc1069-70
72. Mr. J. HARRIS

asked the Postmaster-General whether he accepts any responsibility for the advertisements of Graham, Marsh and Company, Limited, in official telephone directories, including the cloth-bound edition of the London Telephone Directory and the West and East Yorkshire Telephone Directory; and whether, before accepting these advertisements, any inquiry was made as to the character of the business done by this firm?

Mr. HARTSHORN

The advertisements referred to do not appear in the current issue of the London Telephone Directory, and it has already been arranged with the advertising contractors that they shall not appear in the reprints of the directories for the other districts. It is not the practice of the Post Office to make a detailed inquiry as to the business activities of any advertiser; and, as indicated in the preface to these directories, no responsibility is accepted for the statements contained in the trade advertisements.

Mr. HARRIS

In order to prevent a repetition of this, will the right hon. Gentleman in future submit a list of his advertisement contracts to Scotland Yard?

Mr. GRAHAM WHITE

Has the attention of the right hon. Gentleman been drawn to certain articles, dealing with the operations of this firm, which have recently appeared in a periodical called "Truth"?

Mr. HARTSHORN

If the hon. Member will read the reply I have already given, I think it will be obvious to him that certain information has been brought to the notice of the Department.