§ 49. Sir J. Mellorasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the poster appealing for national savings to finance the East African groundnuts scheme was printed and published; and when it was withdrawn from exhibition; and why.
§ Mr. GaitskellI assume that the hon. Member is referring to a poster dealing with the part national savings play in the development of colonial resources. The poster was printed in June, 1949, and had a limited distribution in September, 1949. In October, 1950, the National Savings Committee decided on a further distribution to schools but the Committee have since given instructions to withdraw the poster as part of the letterpress no longer accords with the facts.
§ Sir J. MellorWill the Chancellor agree that the poster stated that two million acres would be reclaimed and that it was published after the decision to abandon that scheme? Was it not, therefore, a grossly misleading prospectus?
§ Mr. GaitskellIf the hon. Member will study the answer I gave to his original Question. I think he will see that the dates indicate that it is not the case that the poster was printed after the decision was taken.
§ Lieut.-Commander Gurney BraithwaiteWas the Treasury responsible for the issue of this poster or was it the Ministry of Food?
§ Mr. GaitskellThe National Savings Committee.