Bill English MP
National Party Deputy Leader

1 August 2007

Questions asked about MfE ad campaigns

National Party Deputy Leader Bill English says new information obtained from the Ministry For The Environment gives a snapshot of the extent of its advertising agenda heading into election year.

"When you look at the scope of the advertising, it's hard to escape the conclusion that Labour is planning a departmental advertising blitz in election year, to get around its draconian election reform laws. One rule for Labour - another rule for everyone else."

Mr English says the details of internal MfE budgets and projects for 2007/08, including communications budgets, are still being finalised. The strategy includes:

* Managing communications activity around all climate change policy developments, including engagement with the public and stakeholders, and communication related to climate change reporting.

* Managing and coordinating overall communications about environmental sustainability and the communications around three of the new sustainability initiatives. These are: the Sustainable Household Programme, Carbon Neutral Public Service, and Towards Zero Waste.

* Publishing a national report on the state of the environment and managing the publicity about this report.

"Every single one of these initiatives is going to be central to Labour's campaign for re-election.

"In election year, Labour will raid the taxpayer purse to crow about its policies, while everyone else will be banned from spending their own money to communicate their point of view.

"This is desperate stuff from an increasingly arrogant Government. Labour should tell the public how much money they're setting aside for departmental communications in election year. It'll make the pledge card scandal look like small change."

ENDS

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