§ 69. Sir W. Smithersasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why, in view of the fact that he was relying on £520,000,000 from the National Savings movement for this year's Budget, the National Savings poster urging people to buy their own homes was suddenly withdrawn, and by whose orders;
§ Mr. Glenvil HallI cannot identify the poster described by the hon. Member; nor14W do I know of any instance of a Savings advertisement being prematurely withdrawn.
Mr. Baker Whiteasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if his attention has been called to the Weekly Campaign Circular issued by the National Savings Committee, No. 248, dated 10th August, 1946; if he was aware that 3½ pages of this issue are devoted to publicity for the Trades Union Congress, the Trades' Councils, and the National Council of Labour; that the article deals, in detail, with the role of the Trade Union Congress in industrial disputes, while only making passing mention in one sentence of its association with the National Savings Committee; and if he will take steps to ensure that the National Savings Committee is not used for trade union propaganda in future.
§ Mr. Glenvil HallThe Weekly Campaign Circular is not issued to the public but distributed by the National Savings Committee to its voluntary workers. I have seen the article referred to by the hon. Member. It was the third of a series written to provide the Savings Movement with information about industrial organisation, in preparation for the drive to increase savings in industry. The previous article in the series described the British Employers Confederation; the other articles dealt with the Regional Boards for Industry, and with Chambers of Commerce.
With regard to the last part of the Question, I do not consider that the matter calls for any action on my part. The leaders of the National Savings Movement have made it clear on many occasions that they will not allow the Movement to be used to carry on any form of sectional propaganda.