§ Mr. Andrew F. Bennettasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what arrangements there are in his Department to monitor regional news programmes on television and local radio to keep him, and senior civil servants, informed of regional news and opinion.
§ Mr. John SilkinMonitoring of local television and radio news programmes is carried out as required. My officials in the regions keep in close touch with public opinion and news items, as reported on 281W television and radio, and inform me accordingly.
§ Mr. Andrew F. Bennettasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many copies of each of the following newspapers are purchased each day by his Department, in order to keep himself, and senior civil servants, informed and how many copies of each paper purchased are northern editions: The Guardian, Daily Telegraph, Daily Mail, Daily Express and Daily Mirror, respectively.
§ Mr. John SilkinThe numbers are as follows:
- The Guardian—14 copies (includes one Northern edition copy).
- Daily Telegraph—7 copies (London edition copies).
- Daily Mail—7 copies (London edition copies).
- Daily Express—7 copies (London edition copies).
- Daily Mirror—7 copies (London edition copies).
A daily Press cutting service is provided within the Department.
§ Mr. Andrew F. Bennettasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many copies of each weekly and biweekly newspaper published within Greater Manchester are purchased by his Department to keep himself, and senior civil servants, informed of regional news and opinion.
§ Mr. John SilkinNone. Various weekly newspapers circulating in Lancashire but published outside Greater Manchester are purchased by my Department and relevant information is passed to me.
§ Mr. Andrew F. Bennettasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many copies of each evening newspaper published in the North-West of England are purchased by his Department to keep himself, and senior civil servants, informed of regional news and opinion.
§ Mr. John SilkinNone. I am kept fully informed on regional news and opinion by my regional officials, many of whom purchase evening newspapers at no public expense.