IPA Reacts to Scottish Government Halt on Public Service Advertising

The IPA has today (16 August) issued a response to the Scottish Government’s decision to halt any further public service advertising for the rest of this financial year, with the exception of campaigns deemed ‘essential’.

Agencies were informed of the impending cuts by the Scottish Government earlier this week with further details of ‘essential’ campaigns expected to follow. This latest development follows the Scottish finance secretary’s letter to her fellow cabinet ministers, made public on Tuesday (13 August), in which Shona Robison MSP said that “emergency spending controls will now be introduced with immediate effect” in order to fund public sector pay deals and amid uncertainty over this year's budget.

Said Paul Bainsfair, director general, IPA, “From detecting cancer early, to mental health support, to road safety, to flu vaccinations, to nursing and teacher recruitment and organ donation - to name but a few, public service campaigns play a vital role in changing behaviours to improve the health of the nation and the economy, and in doing so reduce public costs over the long term.”

“While we appreciate the challenging financial position of the current Scottish economy, we very much believe that halting spend to public service advertising is a short-term decision that could cause dramatic long and indeed short-term damage for the population at large, as well as to the economy.”

“Furthermore, regarding the impact of this decision on the Scottish ad industry, given that the Scottish Government represents the single biggest advertiser in Scotland, any stops to public service advertising could result in a loss of jobs in the sector.”

For further evidence of why it pays to advertise, as well as examples of powerful public service campaigns from the IPA Effectiveness Awards Databank, visit the IPA website.