§ Mr. Watsonasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether the Government propose to submit evidence to the committee of inquiry into local authority business on local authorities' involvement in political publicity campaigns.
§ Mr. Patrick JenkinI have today placed in the Library copies of the submission to the Widdicome inquiry made jointly by my Department, the Scottish Office and the Welsh Office on the use of the local authorities' discretionary powers to engage in political campaigning and publicity at public expense.
The Departments' evidence demonstrates that in recent years there has been a dramatic escalation in the use by local authorities of public funds to publish material and carry out publicity campaigns of a political nature. There is increasing public concern and resentment at this development, which many believe to be both undesirable and contrary to the spirit of local government in this country. The Government fully share this concern, particularly where it results in the involvement of local authority staff in political campaigning and the intrusion of political advertising in every corner of public life.