§ 19. Mr. Hannanasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give a general instruction to all Government Departments, particularly those responsible for the publicly-owned industries, to refrain from taking advertising space in journals showing extreme racialist views and comments.
§ Mr. Roy JenkinsThe general rule is that advertising by Government Departments and publicly-owned industries is so placed as to achieve the required results in the most economical way and does not have regard to editorial policy.
§ Mr. HannanDoes my right hon. Friend appreciate that I do not dissent from his view that the individual must have freedom of expression? But is he aware that the Illustrated County Magazine Group is disseminating filthy, arrogant and offensive copy through a chain of regional magazines throughout the country? Is it right that public money should be used for advertisements in such magazines?
§ Mr. JenkinsI will look at any case which my hon. Friend wishes to draw to my attention, but there is difficulty in departing from the principle I have laid down without getting into very deep water indeed.
§ Sir A. V. HarveyWill the Chancellor give an assurance that what his hon. Friend is asking for will not apply to newspapers which criticise the Government?
§ Mr. JenkinsI think that we would have to restrict our advertising very considerably.