§ Lieut.-Colonel FREMANTLEasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies (1) the name and nationality of the artist who designed the posters issued by the Empire Marketing Board urging us to buy British Empire goods, and the total cost to the taxpayers of his services;
(2) whether, and, if so, how many, tenders were received for the designing of posters issued by the Empire Marketing Board; whether the lowest tender was accepted; and, if not, on what basis was the contract awarded?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREThe posters issued by the Empire Marketing Board have been designed by a large number of different artists who have been invited from time to time to submit designs for the Board's consideration, and whose fees have been settled by individual negotiation in each case. It would be most undesirable to employ only one artist as suggested in the question, or to put out designing work to public tender. It is the policy of the Board to invite the leading artists distinguished for their poster work to submit designs from time to time, and designs from approximately 50 artists have been accepted to date, and the total cost in artists' fees is £3,448 5s.