§ Mr. Foulkesasked the Secretary of State for Scotland how much was spent by the Scottish information office of his Department on advertisements placed through the advertising agency Robertson and Scott in the past three years; whether, in view of the liquidation of the company, he is satisfied that the fees for the placing of advertisements in newspapers have been paid to the newspapers concerned; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. YoungerThe Scottish Information Office has spent no money through the advertising agency Robertson and Scott in the past three years. The office services division of my Department has placed classified advertisements, that is recruitment advertisements and statutory advertisements for road closures, agricultural wages orders and so on to the value of £156,000, £187,000 and £165,000 in the financial years 1979–80, 1980–81 and 1981–82, respectively, and £76,000 in the current financial year, up to the date of receivership, in terms of an agreement between MCS/Robertson and Scott as advertising agents for all Government Departments in Scotland and the Civil Service Commission, acting on behalf of Departments.
In view of the liquidation of the company the question of payment of fees for the placing of advertising in newspapers is entirely a matter for the receiver.