HC Deb 26 November 1969 vol 792 cc407-8
16. Mr. Ashton

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will introduce legislation to prevent toy manufac- turers from advertising toys between now and Christmas Eve.

Mrs. Gwyneth Dunwoody

I am not aware of any justification for such a restriction.

Mr. Ashton

Is my hon. Friend not aware of the extensive advertising on Children's Hour of toys at this time of year and of the embarrassment which it causes to lower-paid workers and widows with families? Does she not think that this form of direct selling to children is unethical?

Mrs. Dunwoody

I accept my hon. Friend's point that selling methods to children can cause difficulty; there is no doubt of that. However, he may be wrong when he says that advertising is the criminal in this instance, because sometimes it helps people with not quite so much money to pick out what is the best value for money.

Sir G. Nabarro

Will not the hon. Lady recognise that this Question invites the soubriquet for the hon. Member of "Scrooge"?

Mrs. Dunwoody

I sometimes think that if hon. Members opposite were as concerned about widows and lower-paid workers as are my hon. Friends, life in this country would be a lot simpler.