GOVERNMENT PUBLICITY

HC Deb 14 April 1980 vol 982 cc788-9

37. Mr. Robert Atkins

asked the Paymaster General if he is satisfied with the present state of recent Government publicity.

Mr. Maude

Yes, Sir.

Mr. Atkins

Would my right hon. Friend care to expand a little on the effects of the publicity surrounding the Budget?

Mr. Maude

A great deal of effort was expended by the Treasury and other Departments in letting the media have the facts, as well as giving explanations of the Chancellor's policy. The press reaction and the public reaction, as shown by opinion polls, indicate that it was extremely successful.

Mr. Maclennan

Does the Paymaster General consider that the low standing of the public—[Interruption]— of the Government—[Interruption.] Does the Paymaster General consider that the low standing of the public in the Government's esteem is due to the Government's failures of communication?

Mr. Maude

Does the hon. Member really mean that the public are held in low esteem by the Government?

Mr. Maclennan

Yes.

Mr. Maude

Then all I can say is that the hon. Member seems to be a great deal more confused than the public.

Mr. Dykes

Does my right hon. Friend agree that Conservative Members have far more respect for the public and their views than many Labour Members? Does he also agree that one of his priorities will be to stand up to the great, mighty power of the departmental information officers, who are naturally reluctant to let any part of their empire go to a politically functioning co-ordinating information and publicity organisation?

Mr. Maude

No, Sir. I do not find that that is true of the information sections of Government Departments. They are clear that their job is to provide factual information and explanations to the media, and to provide a service to the media. This they do, in my opinion, extremely effectively. I shall do everything that I can to help them and encourage them.

Mr. Freud

How much effort went into the Paymaster General's endeavour to inform the hon. Member for Isle of Ely (Mr. Freud) of his visit to that constituency?

Mr. Maude

I was performing a purely political task on that occasion. I was addressing a political gathering. It is not customary for Ministers to inform hon. Members unless they are going to their constituencies in their official capacity as Ministers.