§ 23. Mr. Hugh Jenkinsasked the Minister of Transport if he will issue a general direction to British Railways and London Transport to co-ordinate their advertising policy.
§ Mr. CarmichaelNo, Sir. Advertising is a matter of management for the two bodies concerned.
§ Mr. Hugh JenkinsIs my hon. Friend aware that London Transport refused to display a Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament poster which British Railways displayed, and, indeed, broke a contract in doing so? Is it right that the transport authorities should exercise a political censorship in these matters?
§ Mr. CarmichaelI am aware of the incident to which my hon. Friend referred. I understand that the London Transport Board accepted the poster when it knew the wording only, but, when the accompanying picture was ultimately produced the Board decided that the poster had entered into a political field. It is a matter for the judgment of the bodies concerned. British Railways, which accepted the poster, has roughly the same advertising code, but the final decision is a matter of judgment for the two bodies.
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. Long answers mean fewer Questions.