§ 62. Mr. HAYDAYasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that "Live Wire," a journal which persistently 258 attacks the trade union women temporary civil servants, is advertised on the notice boards of Government Departments, such advertisement being given one the official notice boards of the Pensions Issue Office even for the February issue, which included an attack on a trade union woman divisional superintendent, the length and character of her public service, which, under threat of a libel action, both printer and editor had to withdraw subsequently; that recent appeals for funds to support the turning out of the women were circulated round all Departments, including the women staff concerned; and that this circular included a false statement to the effect that there were still over 3,000 pin-money women employed in the Pensions Ministry, whereas every woman still employed there has had her circumstances gone into and, if appealing against dismissal, verified by a justice of the peace or other responsible citizen; and whether he will undertake that in future no official notice boards shall be used to advertise journals including libellous attacks on women employés, and that circulars attacking the latter shall not be distributed in the offices during office hours?
§ Major BOYD-CARPENTERMy attention would not normally be drawn to questions of the kind referred to by the hon. Member, which would appear to raise disciplinary issues which would more properly be dealt with by the heads of the Departments concerned. I am satisfied that, should circumstances demand it, action would be taken to prevent any abuse of the facilities ordinarily allowed to staff associations for displaying, subject to Departmental approval, notices regarding association activities, and I am not prepared to suggest that existing Departmental practice in this matter should be modified.