HC Deb 25 November 1957 vol 578 cc777-8
1. Mr. Nabarro

asked the Paymaster-General whether, in view of the Government's decision that the nuclear power programme must be curtailed and slowed down in the interests of the national economy as a whole, he will give general directions to the Central Electricity Authority and other national undertakings under his control as to the undesirability at the present juncture of boosting, by extensive newspaper advertisement, their capital expansion schemes.

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Power (Mr. David Renton)

No, Sir. Subject to the general provision that the Central Electricity Authority and other nationalised undertakings are required to exercise reasonable restraint in their advertising expenditure, it is for them to decide what forms of advertising are justified.

Mr. Nabarro

In the climate of economic and financial stringency created by the policy of Her Majesty's Government, is it not both imprudent and improvident to encourage statutory monopolies to spend huge sums of public money in promotional advertising?

Mr. Emrys Hughes

What about Guinness?

Mr. Nabarro

That is not a statutory monopoly, thank goodness.

Mr. Renton

In relation to the amount of capital expenditure, I do not think the amount spent on advertising can be described as excessive. Since the Chancellor made his announcement about economic policy, the wording of some of these advertisements was altered in order to conform with new circumstances, except in cases where the printing had reached an advanced stage.

Mr. Palmer

Would not the hon. and learned Gentleman agree that this advertising is mainly of a valuable educational character, and will he, therefore, pay no attention to his hon. Friend, who is notoriously prejudiced in this matter?

Mr. Renton

No, I do not think my hon. Friend the Member for Kidderminster (Mr. Nabarro) is prejudiced; but I should point out that this particular advertising campaign, as the hon. Member for Cleveland (Mr. Palmer) has suggested, has the idea of educating the public so that they may understand what is going on and have a slightly less prejudiced attitude towards the interference with amenities which has to take place. The great thing is that it should be kept in proportion.