§ 3. Mr. Grocottasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will seek powers to enable him to control the amount of money spent on national advertising campaigns by organisations with undisguised political preferences at General Elections.
§ The Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department (Dr. Shirley Summerskill)We are aware of concern about this subject, but my right hon. Friend does not consider that it would be appropriate to introduce legislation until this matter has been considered by a Speaker's Conference.
§ Mr. GrocottIs my hon. Friend aware that there is a serious anomaly in the electoral law, in that it provides for the strictest possible control over the expenditure of an individual candidate in his constituency but allows at national level a complete free-for-all, with organisations like Aims of Industry spending £500,000 on Conservative Party propaganda which ultimately is paid for by the consumer in higher prices? Does my hon. Friend agree that until this defect in our electoral law is sorted out it will be very difficult to hold genuinely fair elections?
§ Dr. SummerskillI sympathise with what my hon. Friend says, but it is not always easy to draw a line between political propaganda and, as the case may be, informed or uninformed comment. Any limit imposed on political expenditure at large on such advertisement or comment could be an intrusion on freedom of expression. We have to weigh in the balance freedom of expression and the necessity to impose restrictions on expenditure.
§ Mr. Geoffrey FinsbergThe hon. Lady has said that this is a matter which may be considered by a Speaker's Conference. Are we to take it that this Government, unlike the one who were in office for six months, will ask to have it set up?
§ Dr. SummerskillThe decision to set up a Speaker's Conference is taken after consultation between the Leaders of all three parties—
§ Mr. SpeakerWith the agreement of the Speaker.