HC Deb 21 March 1939 vol 345 cc1123-5
46. Mr. R. Gibson (for Mr. Garro Jones)

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he can now make a statement on the composition and terms of reference of the special body to advise on the most effective and economical methods of publicity to be followed by Government Departments; and, in particular, whether this body will consider sums spent for this purpose by way of grant to local authorities?

Mr. Speaker

I hope that the hon. and learned Member has had requests from hon. Members who are absent to put these questions?

Sir J. Simon

Yes, Sir. It has been decided that the following measures shall be undertaken with a view to achieving the objects to which the hon. Member refers. In the first place, a standing Interdepartmental Co-ordinating Committee on Publicity will be appointed, which will consist of representatives of all the Departments which incur substantial expenditure on publicity, together with the Treasury and Stationery Office, for the purpose of ensuring the comparison by Departments of their methods, costs and results. Secondly, Departments or groups of Departments with analogous interests will take steps to constitute panels of advisers from outside the Departments, the members of each panel being regarded as available collectively or individually for consultation by the Department or group of Departments affected. It is proposed that these panels should consist in the main of persons immediately concerned with the publicity undertaken by commercial or industrial firms which incur substantial expenditure on advertising. A Department which already has an advisory council on publicity would be able to retain its council if it wishes. As regards the last part of the question, grants payable to local authorities for publicity purposes would normally come within the purview of the organisation which I have described.

Mr. Bevan

Is it intended that public funds should be used for the purpose of inserting articles in the ordinary public Press? Would not an extension of this practice be highly undesirable?

Sir J. Simon

The hon. Member's question was whether an organisation was being set up to give advice and control in the matter.

Mr. Bevan

But will suggestions be made to this body that it is undesirable for large sums of public money to be used to insert advertisements in the general Press, a practice which leads to grave abuses?

Mr. Henderson Stewart

Can my right hon. Friend say how this advisory committee is to be appointed and by whom?

Sir J. Simon

I do not know whether it is actually appointed by the Treasury or whether it is done in consultation with the other Departments, but it will be by one way or the other.