£8.6m Defra Blood-Boiler

Right, deep breaths...



As you will know, Labour have turned HMG into the UK's biggest advertiser - £540m in 2008-09 -  and these Defra ads are absolutely par for the course.

Meanwhile BOM reader Ian and Beverley D have been keeping a count of the HMG ads they've heard on Heart FM. They only listen for a few minutes when they first wake up, but in a recent two week period they heard ads for:
Metropolitan Police – Community Support Officers

Health and Safety Executive – Safe Loading of Vans

NHS – MMR vaccinations

Jobcentre Plus – Help with your job search

Directgov.co.uk – Visit our Graduate Talent Pool website

Department for Transport – Fasten your seatbelt

Revenue and Customs – Pay your tax online

Directgov.co.uk – Help with pensions

Directgov.co.uk – Eat less salt

Department for Transport? – Drive carefully

Home Office – Let’s keep crime down

Ian writes:

"Many of these have been on several times. This is in addition to the many adverts on TV too - for example suggesting that we mind our speed and start driving shorter distances.

It annoys me that my taxes are being used to lecture me about how I manage my life in general. But the radio ad that takes the biscuit is the Community Support Officer ad by the Met Police. It simply states what a great idea they are!"

So that's another £540m pa for the savings pot.

And we will be very upset indeed if these ads or similar stay on the air after May.