§ 2.45 p.m.
§ Lord McNally asked Her Majesty's Government:
§ Whether they will invite the Committee on Standards in Public Life to review quarterly, and report to Parliament on, levels of expenditure by government departments on advertising and related campaigns; and to do so up to the date of the next general election.
5§ Lord Bassam of BrightonMy Lords, the Government believe that there are already sufficient arrangements in place for the reporting of expenditure on government advertising. Government advertising is conducted in accordance with the guidance on the work of the Government Information and Communications Service. Departments account for advertising expenditure in their annual reports which can, of course, be audited by the National Audit Office and the Public Accounts Committee. In addition, the Advisory Committee on Advertising monitors the effectiveness of COI advertising.
§ Lord McNallyMy Lords, does not the Minister recall that in the 12 months up to the 2001 election government expenditure on advertising rocketed and that a "Panorama" exposé showed that much of that expenditure was not targeted at recipients but at key, core voters? Does he recall that at that time government advertising was under the ultimate control of Mr Alastair Campbell, and that when Mr Campbell departed office we were assured that we would have a government Civil Service overlord independent of political control? That was four months ago. When will this Civil Service overlord he appointed? When he or she is appointed, how will they have whistle-blower powers if there is no Civil Service Act to give them independence from their political masters?
§ Lord Bassam of BrightonMy Lords, I am grateful to the noble Lord for his wide-ranging questions. The noble Lord asked in particular about the appointment of a Permanent Secretary to cover government communications. My understanding is that an advertisement has recently been placed for that and that an appointment will be made in the next few months. That person will, of course, report to Sir Andrew Turnbull.
With regard to the noble Lord's comments on the "Panorama" programme, I have looked at the Government's spend on advertising over the relevant period. Expenditure reached some £191 million in the year to which the noble Lord referred. However, that is in keeping with the trend figures in relation to the parliamentary cycle going back several decades.
§ Lord HigginsMy Lords, does the noble Lord agree that it is very important to distinguish between propaganda and information? Although there is a strong need to publicise the pensions credit as very few people understand it at the moment, the full-page advertisements currently appearing in the national press which state that pensioners,
who have modest savings, investments, or income such as a second pension or an annuity, could get extra money as well",are grossly misleading. Such advertisements ought to say, "The Chancellor will go on taxing your small savings, but not quite as much as before".
§ Lord Bassam of BrightonMy Lords, I hesitate to say this but I think that if the Government were to issue an advertisement based on the noble Lord's last comment, it would probably be considered propaganda. I am sure 6 the noble Lord would agree that it is entirely right that governments spend money on promoting, explaining and informing the public about their rights and responsibilities. The Government's spend on advertising, or media expenditure, in the year 2002–03, covered such subjects as the million visitor campaign for the British Tourist Authority, the new tax credits scheme for the Inland Revenue, the tobacco information campaign, the business links scheme, tax self-assessment, energy efficiency, army recruitment and campaigns to encourage more people to take up teaching. No doubt, although it is not in the list, there were campaigns directed at getting more people to join our excellent police service. It is hard to argue against those things which I am sure comprise the vast bulk of government advertising.
§ Lord NasebyMy Lords, is the Minister aware that part of the Question relates to "related campaigns"? Is he not further aware that if the Civil Service overlord is do his job effectively, he will need information on the cost of PR, sponsorship and a welter of related campaigns? What plans are there to pull those figures together?
§ Lord Bassam of BrightonMy Lords, one of the purposes of the appointment of a Permanent Secretary for government communications is the carrying out of precisely the kind of work to which the noble Lord referred. I have no doubt that the Permanent Secretary will be well supported by every department, particularly the COI and the Government Information and Communications Service, which will provide, I am sure, the top-quality advice that he will need for that job.
§ Lord TebbitMy Lords, is there any significance in the fact that while the noble Lord, Lord Rooker, was answering a Question about benefits for disabled children, there was one official in the Box, but that during the Minister's current question-and-answer session, there are three? Perhaps that gives us a picture of the Government's priorities.
§ Lord Bassam of BrightonMy Lords, I rather fancy that that is because the noble Lord, Lord Rooker, is very good at answering questions. The noble Lord, Lord Tebbit, will have to put up with me on this one.
I am grateful to the noble Lord for his question. It occurs to me that when he was at the Department of Trade and Industry allegations were made that advertising in that department went up by leaps and bounds.
§ Lord McNallyMy Lords, nobody is suggesting—
§ Lord McNallyMy Lords, it is not "next Question".
§ The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean)My Lords, strictly speaking, we have passed the halfway point. To be fair to the other Questions, we should move on.