§ 2.43 p.m.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether it is true, as reported in The Times of Wednesday, 14th December, that a window display of a Nativity scene, in the Warrington showrooms of the Electricity Board, depicted the three Wise Men proffering a washing machine, an electric cooker and a refrigerator. with a poster over the scene proclaiming "Wise Men choose gifts that last"; and, if so, whether, to avoid further such disgraceful and blasphemous commercial advertising by a nationally controlled industry in a Christian country, Her Majesty's Government will consider issuing a general direction to the controlling Boards of these industries, laying down guiding principles concerning advertisements for which they are responsible.]
§ THE MINISTER WITHOUT PORT-FOLIO (THE EARL OF MUNSTER)My Lords, my right honourable friend the Minister of Fuel and Power sympathises with the views expressed by the noble Lord about this advertisement, He has been informed by the Merseyside and North Wales Electricity Board that they deeply regret the offence which has been given. An error of judgment was clearly made, and the advertisement was withdrawn as soon as a protest was received.
As regards the last part of the noble Lord's Question, Her Majesty's Government consider that the form of advertisement used must be left to the judgment of the Boards concerned, and that it is not a subject to be dealt with by means of a general direction.