40 Mr. Power asked the Minister for Finance the way in which he can justify excluding Government and Government agencies advertising from local newspapers in view of the high readership which provincial newspapers have; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22693/96]

Local newspapers are not excluded from Government advertising. Each Department and office decides where its advertisements will be placed given the nature and subject matter of the topic in question. I understand that every Department uses local newspapers for advertising where this is considered appropriate.