HC Deb 29 April 1959 vol 604 cc1264-6
33. Mr. Mayhew

asked the Postmaster-General whether his attention has been drawn to a television commercial broadcast at 8.15 on 11th April by Associated Television urging viewers to read details of the Messina case in the News of the World; whether he is aware that many children will have been watching at that time; and what consultations he has had with the Independent Television Authority regarding the advertising on independent television of newspaper features on prostitutes and procurers.

The Assistant Postmaster-General (Mr. Kenneth Thompson)

Yes, Sir, but in case there is some misunderstanding the Authority informs me that the advertisement, while referring to the Messina case, did not mention prostitutes and procurers. The Answer to the last part of the Question is "None, Sir."

Mr. Mayhew

Is it not quite hypocritical to say that advertisements urging viewers, including children, to read the Messina case in the News of the World is not referring to prostitutes and procurers? Is not the News of the World quite capable of making sex pay without resorting to commercial advertising on television? Are not the programme contractors making enough money without having to resort to methods of this kind?

Mr. Thompson

The Authority assures me that it applied to this advertisement and others the standards which have been agreed and which are applied to advertisements of all classes.

Mr. Ness Edwards

Would the hon. Gentleman convey to the I.T.A. the view of the House that at least this was in bad taste?

— Applications awaiting the provision of additional plant or equipment Applications under enquiry or in course of being met Total
United Kingdom
31st March, 1951 … … 417,737 114,819 532,556
31st March, 1958 … … 91,376 80,039 171,415
31st March, 1959 … … 60,262 84,828 145,090
Preston Telephone Area
31st March, 1951 … … 9,273 2,287 11,560
31st March, 1958 … … 1,231 1,525 2,756
31st March, 1959 … … 1,196 1,226 2,422
In the past 12 months 5,701 telephones were installed in the Preston telephone area and 355,902 in the United Kingdom as a whole.
35. Mr. Green

asked the Postmaster-General how many subscribers in the Preston telephone area are actually on a shared-line service as compared with

Mr. Thompson

I do not know in what capacity the right hon. Gentleman is speaking or why he claims to speak for the whole House.