HC Deb 20 May 1969 vol 784 cc231-2
Q1. Mr. Speed

asked the Prime Minister how many presentation copies of his photograph he has given away officially, at the public expense, in the last 12 months.

The Prime Minister (Mr. Harold Wilson)

Detailed information is not readily available but expenditure is currently about £150 a year and is in line with similar expenditure by my predecessors.

Mr. Speed

I thank the Prime Minister for that reply. Would he consider reserving the last official photograph to send to the Secretary of State for Social Services as an aide memoire when the date of the next General Election is announced?

Mr. Atkinson

Will my right hon. Friend agree that this is a question of permitted expenditure? I hope that he will not be intimidated by some of the frivolities opposite. However, would he declare to the wider Labour movement that it is not possible for a permanent official to forbid expenditure being committed by a Minister?

Mr. Speaker

Order. This Question is about photographs.