HC Deb 02 July 1981 vol 7 cc1001-2
Q1 Mr. Eggar

asked the Prime Minister if she will seek powers to control the advertising expenditure of the nationalised industries.

The Prime Minister (Mrs. Margaret Thatcher)

It is not my present intention to do so. Most nationalised industry advertising is of an ordinary commercial kind. The exceptions can be pursued through other channels.

Mr. Eggar

Has my right hon. Friend noted the disgraceful advertising campaigns mounted by the British Gas Corporation and British Rail, which clearly have political rather than commercial objectives? Is she aware that the British Gas Corporation's present campaign will cost £2 million? Does she agree that that is an unacceptable use of taxpayers' money and will she take steps to claw back that amount through the cash limits system?

The Prime Minister

I share my hon. Friend's distaste for some of the non-commercial advertising of both British Rail and British Gas, neither of which is commercial and which we believe in both cases was politically directed. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport has made his views known to the board of British Rail and my right hon. Friend the Minister for Consumer Affairs has made her views known to British Gas. I believe that this is a wrong use of public money.

Mr. Joseph Dean

Will the Prime Minister explain how she intends to advertise the sale and hiving off of the Royal ordnance factories to the private sector when they are the most important component of the logistics of our Army today? Are the Government seriously suggesting that the private sector of the arms industry can be trusted to keep our Army supplied if the hour of need comes again?

The Prime Minister

A considerable number of firms in the private sector supply defence requirement to our Armed Services. There would be nothing unusual in adding to that number.

Mr. Jessel

Does my right hon. Friend agree that, although it is entirely right for British Airways to advertise for custom against other airlines, it is entirely wrong for it to use money to campaign for a fifth terminal at Heathrow and in doing so to be clearly against Government policy, as the Secretary of State for Trade has clearly stated that a fifth terminal should not be built at Heathrow?

The Prime Minister

The vast majority of advertising is commercial and is not only justified but necessary to get the business into the nationalised industries. I agree with my hon. Friend that anything other than commercial advertising is most undesirable.

Mr. Flannery

Does the Prime Minister accept that on the way here on the wretched railway line from Sheffield to London there are huge advertisements in the fields, painted in black letters on a white background, proclaiming "Choose Corby. It works"? Will she inquire who put those advertisements there—there are at least three of them—telling people to go to Corby because it works, when every hon. Member knows that the people of Corby are out of work and that the Government are doing nothing to put them into work?

The Prime Minister

Corby is an enterprise zone, and it seems to me that that is a legitimate advertisement.

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