6. Duchess of ATHOLLasked the Minister of Transport whether, in view of the fact that agencies controlling hoardings have recently refused to find space for a political poster because they had been given to understand by a representative of his Department that their 2985 position would be prejudiced under the Restriction of Ribbon Development Bill if they exposed posters criticising the Government, he will contradict this intimation and make inquiries into the circumstances under which it was made?
Captain HUDSONI am not aware of any foundation for the allegation that any such statement was made by any representative of the Department, which indeed hardly requires contradiction from me in view of its fantastic character.
Duchess of ATHOLLWould the hon. and gallant Gentleman look at the evidence that I have received giving details of the intimations made as to why the poster was refused?
Captain HUDSONI have in my hand a letter from the bill posters. They have an independent censorship committee of their industry which does not permit posters to be put up which offend against public taste. The reason they would not put up this one is because it was a personal attack on an individual. As regards the Ribbon Development Bill, the Standing Committee passed the Amendment on 15th July, and the censorship committee's action was taken 10 days later.
Duchess of ATHOLLDoes the hon. and gallant Gentleman not know that another Bill is under discussion by private interests which will affect the position of owners of boardings?
Captain HUDSONAll I can say is that the industry itself alludes to this question as a deliberate and disgraceful falsehood.