asked the Minister for Supplies if he will state (a) the purpose for which public money is spent on newspaper advertising in relation to matters affected by Emergency Powers Orders, (b) the names of the local newspapers circulating mainly in Counties Carlow and Kilkenny to which £430 was paid in a 12-month period for such advertising, (c) the relative circulation of each of such newspapers, and (d) the circulation of the Kilkenny People.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Government Advertising.
Expenditure is incurred by the Department of Supplies on newspaper advertising to give publicity to the provisions of the Emergency Powers Orders made from time to time in connection with the fixing of prices and the maintenance of supplies and services essential to the life of the community. Moneys have also been spent on newspaper advertising to bring home to the people the need for conserving supplies and avoiding waste in the case of commodities such as flour, bread and rubber.
The sum of £430 was paid in the year ended 31st August, 1942, for advertising in the Nationalist and Leinster Times and the Kilkenny Journal.
I do not consider that I am at liberty to disclose the information furnished to me concerning the circulation of newspapers, which must be regarded as having been supplied in confidence by such newspapers for the convenience of the official Government contractors.
Although size of circulation is not the only consideration which must necessarily be taken into account in this matter, the information available to me indicates that the newspapers circulating in the area mentioned in the question, which are at present receiving my Department's advertisements, are those with the largest circulation.