§ 34. Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications, in view of the fact that the Labour Party and the Trades Union Congress, who represent a substantial part of the British electorate, have declared themselves against Great Britain's entry into the European Economic Community in terms which are in his possession, whether he will seek to make available to them the same facilities for circulating their publicity material through Post Offices as that afforded for the Government's Common Market Fact-sheets.
§ Mr. ChatawayNo, Sir.
§ Mr. LewisIs it not a scandal that the Minister and the Post Office should be aiding and abetting the Government in using the taxpayers' money for party political propaganda? As it has been revealed that whilst cutting services for school children the Government have been spending £25,000 in sending 800,000 Conservatives Party propaganda leaflets, 1579 should not some action be taken by the right hon. Gentleman to stop this scandal of party propaganda going out at the taxpayers' expense? Will he do something about it?
Mr. ChafawayThese Factsheets were, as the House knows, published in accordance with past practice—[HON. MEMBERS: "No."]—Factsheets were produced by the previous Government—[HON. MEMBERS: "No."]—in connection with the application in 1967. The Post Office has distributed these Factsheets as part of its agency function on behalf of the Government under Section 7 of the Post Office Act, 1969. But I do not believe that it would be appropriate, as this Question suggests, for the Post Office to start distributing literature on behalf of political parties, the C.B.I. or trade unions.
§ Mr. LewisOn a point of order, Mr. Speaker. In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I hope, with your assistance, to raise the subject tomorrow on the Motion for the Adjournment.