§ Mr. Jannerasked the President of the Board of Trade (1) on what grounds guidance has been given by his Department to the Working Committee of the Federation of British Industries dealing with advertising expenditure, to the effect that the Committee should seek to obtain cuts of the order of one-third in the advertising of rationed and luxury goods, goods in short supply, and entertainment; and whether he will make a further statement with regard to this matter;
(2) whether he proposes to give any guidance to the Working Committee of the Federation of British Industries now studying advertising expenditure, on the precise objectives which he desires that Committee to achieve; and what steps will be taken to make these objectives known to those organisations which are concerned with advertising, and which are not represented on this Committee.
§ Mr. H. WilsonMy Department has given no formal guidance to the Working Committee of the Federation of British Industries on the nature or degree of cuts in advertising which they should seek to obtain, though there has been an informal exchange of views between officials of my Department and of the Federation. Should the Working Committee at any time require guidance from my right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer or myself, we shall be happy to give it. No doubt the Working Committee will see that suitable publicity is given at the proper time to any arrangements that may be made.
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§ Mr. Jannerasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that a number of bodies vitally concerned with advertising are not represented on the Committee called by the Federation of British Industries, to ascertain whether a voluntary scheme can take the place of the advertising proposals originally contained in the Finance Bill; and whether he is prepared to receive independent evidence from such bodies in this connection.
§ Mr. H. WilsonNo. I am informed that the main national organisations concerned with advertising are represented on the Working Committee set up by the Federation of British Industries. It would be impracticable for the Committee to include representatives of all the sectional organisations concerned with advertising, but the Federation stated in the Press on 24th December, 1947, that the planning sub-committee appointed to formulate proposals would welcome representations from other bodies. In the circumstances I am satisfied that there is no need for me to receive independent evidence.