how much do the gov spend on ad's?

[pete a]

It seems i can't turn on the TV,Radio or open a paper without some form of Goverment advert ie;

policing pledge
tax credits
inland revenue
benefit cheats
car tax warnings
tv tax warnings
tax on co2 bull sh~t

to mention but a few, i'm sure there are a load more, this must surely cost a fortune ???

[crmcatee]

The Government (notice the n) is the largest spender on advertising in this country.

I'm sure a freedom of information request would advise the actual figure (if it hasn't already been done).

[hornetrider]

£540,000,000 is your answer.

I was rteading something related earlier, the figure is at the bottom of the article.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/art...

[Eric Mc]

crmcatee said:

The Government (notice the n) is the largest spender on advertising in this country.

I'm sure a freedom of information request would advise the actual figure (if it hasn't already been done).

Is that true?

If they didn't advertise (or inform), they would be accused of NOT doing enough to make people aware.

I actually think that the government does far too little in to make citizens aware of their rights and duties.

[JMGS4]

IIRR I saw a prog on the box which mentioned that Labour had ranted about all the costs the Tory Government had listed and that Labour were going to do better. The programme stated that they now spend 14 billion pounds per annum on advertising (this is including all the Quangos, NGOs and other useless government depts) as against the tory governments then spend of 10 million....
What was particularly interesting is that there are over 50000 jobs/employees in advertising/press departments which have been "invented" since Nulabia came into office...
Even all the TV programmes about how well the immigration department are doing (Border Patrol and others) are purely Labour propaganda to show how they actually are doing something (which they're not)

[Pothole]

JMGS4 said:

IIRR I saw a prog on the box which mentioned that Labour had ranted about all the costs the Tory Government had listed and that Labour were going to do better. The programme stated that they now spend 14 billion pounds per annum on advertising (this is including all the Quangos, NGOs and other useless government depts) as against the tory governments then spend of 10 million....
What was particularly interesting is that there are over 50000 jobs/employees in advertising/press departments which have been "invented" since Nulabia came into office...
Even all the TV programmes about how well the immigration department are doing (Border Patrol and others) are purely Labour propaganda to show how they actually are doing something (which they're not)

Surely an NGO by its very nature is not a government department?

[pete a]

[quote=crmcatee]The Government (notice the N) is the largest spender on advertising in this country.



oh yes the missing N sorry old chap.

Back on topic surely this is too much money, and I for one find it all very annoying and patronising. I hope I spelt all that ok.

[crmcatee]

Eric Mc said:

Is that true?

If they didn't advertise (or inform), they would be accused of NOT doing enough to make people aware.

I actually think that the government does far too little in to make citizens aware of their rights and duties.

They spent £211m a year up to April 09. Making them the top spender when they spent that. That's rocketed to £540m since then.

Some details here

I'm fed up being advised about garbage like the CO2, DVLA car crushing propaganda..

[crmcatee]

pete a said:

crmcatee said:

The Government (notice the N) is the largest spender on advertising in this country.



oh yes the missing N sorry old chap.

Back on topic surely this is too much money, and I for one find it all very annoying and patronising. I hope I spelt all that ok.

Must maintain standards on here you know.. What what. Here have a silver star for the top of your jotter.

[Eric Mc]

Not arguing about some of the topics they chose to inform us about.

However, I'd like to see far more better driving films (like in the 60s and 70s) as I am sure there are loads of people out there who haven't a clue about some basic rules of the road.

I would also like to see a bit more help and advice on tax matters on TV as so many people are totally ignorant of their obligations under UK tax law.

Finally, pensioners are terribly ignorant of their entitlements and the government would be far better off letting old people know about how to go about their pension ctrdits, for instance.

[theaxe]

I have noticed that the number of ads has been increasing as we approach the election. Radio adverts about the policing pledge seem to be on every 5 mins...

[deeps]

They will spend as much they like whether it's necessary or not. It's easy spending someone elses money. Look at the disgraceful 'Act On CO2' advertising campaign that actually broadcasts lies, and all the nonsensical global warming stories pushed out by the BBC. The price tag on those is enormous, it's all more public money wasted.

Edited by deeps on Tuesday 5th January 16:25

[anonymous-user]

I haven't actually counted,(as that would mean I know what I'm talking about) but I'm pretty sure that half the adverts on LBC Radio are gubberment information ads. Some of their presenters don't mind bitting the hand that feeds them though as there's been plenty of anti Labour ranting on there lately.

[oyster]

deeps said:

They will spend as much they like whether it's necessary or not. It's easy spending someone elses money. Look at the disgraceful 'Act On CO2' advertising campaign that actually broadcasts lies, and all the nonsensical global warming stories pushed out by the BBC. The price tag on those is enormous, it's all more public money wasted.

Edited by deeps on Tuesday 5th January 16:25

IYO

[Mst007]

Oh those incessant ads drive me crazy, they are a cue for a steady stream of swearing and ranting, often followed by realising one of the kids has entered the room when I wasnt looking. Oops.

[groucho]

....and about 95% of everybody else.

[tinman0]

Eric Mc said:

If they didn't advertise (or inform), they would be accused of NOT doing enough to make people aware.

Govt ad spending has gone through the roof in the last 12 years. I don't remember anyone complaining that the last Tory Govt weren't spending enough 12 years ago. IIRC they were spending something in the order of £20m pa.

As for people not know their rights - I think we have had enough of people being told "their rights". I think todays society is all about "your rights" and non of "your responsibilities".

And why people can't just look some of this stuff up the web I don't know. The web is a perfect medium to get this message across. Why its has to be fed via the tv in a dumbed down fashion.

[Eric Mc]

tinman0 said:

Eric Mc said:

If they didn't advertise (or inform), they would be accused of NOT doing enough to make people aware.

Govt ad spending has gone through the roof in the last 12 years. I don't remember anyone complaining that the last Tory Govt weren't spending enough 12 years ago. IIRC they were spending something in the order of £20m pa.

As for people not know their rights - I think we have had enough of people being told "their rights". I think todays society is all about "your rights" and non of "your responsibilities".

And why people can't just look some of this stuff up the web I don't know. The web is a perfect medium to get this message across. Why its has to be fed via the tv in a dumbed down fashion.

It all depends on who you mean by "people". I think it is an absolute disgrace that many pensioners are not aware of extra benefits they are entitled to. It is downright shameful that the government do not alert the elderly to pension credits and how to go about claiming them.

[tinman0]

Eric Mc said:

It all depends on who you mean by "people". I think it is an absolute disgrace that many pensioners are not aware of extra benefits they are entitled to. It is downright shameful that the government do not alert the elderly to pension credits and how to go about claiming them.

But thats all part of the con though. The benefits are available, but they work on the basis that people won't apply for them.

Why not simply add it to the state pension as an itemised extra and be done with it? Why bother with information campaigns and so forth.

Or even, shock horror, write to pensioners. Surely that would be more effective than tv advertising.

[supersingle]

Eric Mc said:

I actually think that the government does far too little in to make citizens aware of their rights and duties.

Good for you.

I'd rather they didn't spend any of my hard earned polluting the airwaves with their insidious propaganda. But hey, that's just me!