§ LORD BARNBYasked His Majesty's Government whether they will state the total expenditure on Press advertising for all Departments of Government for the fiscal years 1943–1944 and 1944–1945, the 639WA number of selected agencies through which this was placed, and the nature of measurement which was used to establish necessary qualifications.
§ LORD TEMPLEMOREThe total expenditure on Press advertising for all Government Departments amounted to £1,996,000 in 1943–1944 and to £1,884,000 (estimated) in 1944–1945 and the services of 35 selected agencies were used during these two years. In recent years the agencies have been selected on the recommendation of an independent Advisory Committee appointed by the Minister of Information in 1940. The knowledge and experience of the members of this Committee has been the first measurement used to establish the qualifications of the agencies employed. Thereafter, selections have been made, first, on the need for the efficient servicing of the Government's interests; second, on an equitable spread of the work amongst the agencies judged capable of providing the service required, having due regard to economy in man-power.