§ Mrs. DunwoodyTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the Government's policy on publishing statistics relating to budgetary restraint within the period of an election campaign; and if he will make a statement on the conventions involved.
§ Mr. MacGregorGuidance to officials stresses the need to ensure that statistics are presented in an objective and impartial manner and that care is taken on the timing and announcement of sensitive decisions. The convention is that Ministers, too, seek to defer announcing sensitive decisions during an election period.