§ 34. Mr. Costainasked the Lord President of the Council what is the cost of the printing and distribution of the Government's publication concerning their inflation policy which has been distributed to all householders.
§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Privy Council Office (Mr. William Price)The total cost for printing and distributing the Counter-inflation booklet was about £850,000. Supplementary Estimates provision will be sought at the earliest opportunity.
§ Mr. CostainWhat justification can there be for this expenditure? Is the Minister aware of the public indignation at party propaganda being put across to the country at taxpayers' expense?
§ Mr. PriceI was under the impression that this policy had the broad support of the House, which is more than can be said for the Fair Rent Act, upon which the Conservative Government spent £852, 000 of public money on advertising—a figure which today would almost certainly be £1¼ million. I have looked very hard but I can find no evidence that the hon. Gentleman complained on that occasion.