§ 35. Mr. George Cunninghamasked the Minister for the Civil Service if he will remove the words "Britain, like the best hotels, clubs and restaurants, can't afford to allow everyone through its doors" from the advertisement for immigration officers.
§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Civil Service Department (Mr. Kenneth Baker)I have done so, Sir. These words will certainly not be used in future advertisements.
§ Mr. CunninghamWill the hon. Gentleman accept my thanks for that and make sure that future advertisements are cleared by someone other than an advertising quack using language appropriate to his profession?
§ Mr. BakerThe procedure is that when an advertisement first appears the form of the words is approved by the sponsoring Department. When there is a change, usually of a small nature, it is approved by the Civil Service Commission, but I have given instructions to the commission in future to refer to the sponsoring Department any change of this sort in copy for advertisements.
§ Mr. SheldonThe hon. Gentleman will be aware that he has the whole House behind him in this repudiation which he has given to this House. It is obvious that there was an error on the part of the civil servant or whatever individual wrote the wording. The House will be grateful for the hon. Gentleman's reply.