Board of Trade Journal

HC Deb 26 November 1969 vol 792 cc398-9

7. Mr. Sheldon

asked the President of the Board of Trade what changes he proposes to make in theBoard of Trade Journal.

Mrs. Gwyneth Dunwoody

To improve the Journal's usefulness to its readers, changes of content and editorial technique are under discussion. These follow a readership survey conducted last year. The Journal will continue to emphasise matters concerning exports and provide a vehicle for a broad range of official information affecting trade and industry.

Mr. Sheldon

Since so many of the activities of the Board of Trade have been hived off to other Departments, is it not clear that there is a need for another publication which will reflect the wide-ranging relationship between Government and industry, and that this might be brought about by an expansion of the Board of Trade Journal or even by another journal?

Mrs. Dunwoody

The Board of Trade remains a very important Department in Whitehall, covering a great many vital subjects. Although the Board of Trade Journal has not yet reached the point where it interprets statistics as being someone's bust measurement, I think it will contain some rather useful bits of information.

Mr. Wingfield Digby

As a keen reader of this publication, might I ask that the trade statistics be brought a little nearer the beginning, instead of being tucked away near the end?

Mrs. Dunwoody

The hon. Gentleman is one of an estimated readership of 33,600 people, all of whom, very interestingly, appear to be in influential positions. We shall certainly take note of his point of view.