§ Ms CorstonTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport on how many occasions and in what circumstances in the last five years advertisements have been placed in newspapers or periodicals which have been described as being issued by or on behalf of Ministers in his Department rather than on behalf of Her Majesty's Government.
§ Mr. NorrisThere is no practical distinction between publicity described as being issued by a single Minister or Her Majesty's Government.
Many Government advertisements do not identify the sponsor but, whether explicit or implicit, all advertising is placed on behalf of a Secretary of State in pursuance of his or her powers on behalf of the Queen. The subject matter of the advertisement will determine which, if any, phrase is used.
Most Department of Transport advertisements in this category are for road improvement schemes.