HC Deb 03 May 1927 vol 205 cc1446-7
32. Mr. H. WILLIAMS

asked the Postmaster-General whether he was consulted by the advertisement contractors to his Department before they accepted for insertion in the telephone directory an advertisement of a company which is selling goods confiscated from British subjects by the Soviet Government?

Mr. R. MORRISON

On a point of Order. May I ask you, Sir, if your attention has been drawn to tins question, which contains a very serious accusation against a company whose advertisement has been accepted by a Government publication, accusing them of selling stolen property, and whether that accusation is in order in the form of a question?

Mr. SPEAKER

I have not noticed it particularly, but I think it is common knowledge that certain property has been nationalised in the country referred to.

Viscount WOLMER

Advertisements are usually submitted to the Post Office before publication, but in the case of the Bristol Telephone Directory, to which I presume my hon. Friend refers, the advertising contractors explain that they only received the order when the directory was actually in the press, and they failed to observe the normal rule. The only other advertisement of this company in a telephone directory, so far as I am aware, is a small insertion in the London Directory for which authority was given under a misapprehension. I am much obliged to my hon. Friend for calling my attention to the matter. The advertisements will be omitted from future issues.

Mr. BOOTHBY

Is the Noble Lord aware that certain advertisements in official publications on behalf of the liquor trade have been causing a good deal of dissatisfaction in Scotland recently, and will he consider the question of having no advertisements at all in Government documents?

Viscount WOLMER

I do not think there is any analogy at all between advertisements in regard to alcoholic beverages and the advertisements referred to in the question, but I can tell my hon. Friend that the Post Office does take care to Exclude controversial advertisements.

Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHY

If it is illegal for this company to operate in England, would it not be better to prosecute them?