§ 27. Mr. Ness Edwardsasked the Postmaster-General what was the average amount of advertising between the hours of 7.30 p.m. and 10.30 p.m. for the month of June on commercial television.
§ Mr. BevinsThe Authority tells me that its control statistics are summarised on the basis of the clock hours, but that the average amount of advertising for the period 7.30 p.m. to 10.30 p.m. would be similar to the figure I quoted to the hon. Member for Woolwich, East (Mr. Mayhew) last week.
§ Mr. Ness EdwardsDoes not the right hon. Gentleman realise that he is being "had" by the I.T.A.? The evening peak hours are from 7.30 to 10.30. It is in that period that there is a higher average of advertising time. By using the period from 7 o'clock to 10 o'clock in the evening the I.T.A. misled the 484 right hon. Gentleman and he, in turn, misled the House.
§ Mr. BevinsI am not being "had" by anybody. The position is quite clear. For the month of June, between 7 o'clock and 10 o'clock the average period devoted to advertising was 6.8 minutes. Alternatively, between 8 o'clock and 11 o'clock in the evening in the same month the average was also 6.8 minutes, so the right hon. Gentleman can take his pick.