HC Deb 24 January 1977 vol 924 cc955-6
30. Mr. Moonman

asked the Minister for the Civil Service if he is satisfied with existing arrangements between the Central Office of Information and advertising agencies engaged on Government business; and if he will make a statement about inquiries he is making about dealings between such advertising agencies and companies supplying Press production materials.

Mr. Charles R. Morris

Yes, Sir. I apologise for the length of this reply.

Mr. Speaker

Will the Minister tell me whether it is even longer than the others?

Mr. Tebbit

It is a Civil Service reply.

Mr. Morris

I have, as my hon. Friend knows, expanded the membership of my Advisory Committee on Advertising and have proposed some changes in its terms of reference to enable me to consult it more generally on practices within the advertising industry. It will retain its first responsibility for advising on the selection of agencies for specific campaigns. There have been Press reports of allegations of irregular dealings be- tween advertising agencies engaged on Government campaigns and companies producing Press advertising material. These have been referred to the police and I am informed that they have been unable to establish evidence that corruption of the sort alleged has, in fact, occurred. I am entirely satisfied that no Government employees, who play no part in the placing of such sub-contracts, could have been involved in any such alleged irregularity and that, furthermore, COI's policy on the issue of subcontracting has been made abundantly clear to advertising agencies

I hope that new arrangements can shortly be introduced which would effectively make irregularities of this kind more difficult, if not impossible. A scheme was put forward in 1975 by a joint COI and Institute of Practitioners in Advertising Working Party set up to rationalise the purchase system for Press production material. COI has discussed this with employers and the appropriate trade unions and it is hoped that a scheme revised in the light of their views can shortly be introduced.

Mr. Moonman

I am grateful to my hon. Friend for the statement, the length of which is justified because the matter has raised so much concern outside the House. May I reassure my hon. Friend that management and trade unions in the printing industry, which I represent, fully accept his assurance that there has been no malpractice and warmly welcome his inquiries?

Mr. Morris

I am grateful to my hon. Friend for his kind remarks.

Mr. Rooker

Will my hon. Friend confirm that the Government are the largest single advertiser and that most advertising agencies survive only because of the public expenditure so involved?

Mr. Morris

I accept that the Government are major advertisers, and it is here that much Government expenditure is incurred. That is precisely the reason for my statement.