HC Deb 01 February 1966 vol 723 cc876-7
34. Mr. Farr

asked the Minister of Power what representation he has received urging him to extend his policy of discontinuing advertising by the electricity industry; and what reply he has sent.

Mr. Frederick Lee

None, Sir.

Mr. Farr

Can the Minister say why the Electricity Board has stopped advertising the sale of electricity for use in off-peak hours by storage heaters? Is this yet another example of Socialist Government and nationalised industry failing to show initiative?

Mr. Lee

What should we do with the party opposite? A few Questions ago I was told how right it was to do it, but that it was done too late. We asked the Board if it would agree to a cessation by a certain date. It was not at that stage possible to separate from the rest all the advertising propaganda which had been arranged for off-peak work. We had therefore to stop it all, as we did.

Mr. Peyton

Does the right hon. Gentleman realise that his anxieties about what to do with the party opposite are entirely reciprocated?

Mr. Lee

I think the hon. Member had more cause for that than I had.