The Advertising Association today responded to a thesis by Compass on the advertising industry.

Tim Lefroy, chief executive of the Advertising Association, attacked the call for a ban on advertising in public spaces. He said: "Outdoor advertising generates income for national government, and local authorities, which in turn funds free amenities such as bus shelters, and a number of free sites for local messaging.

"To suggest that a free society requires the state to dictate when, where and how we communicate with each other contradicts the concept of liberty and free thought and speech."

“This is a step in the right direction, despite prohibitions on certain product categories. It opens the way for new revenue for broadcasters to invest in original UK programme production, which will benefit the public as well as the industry”

UK advertising expenditure figures – actual Q3 2009 data and forecasts to Q3 2011 – released today by the Advertising Association (AA) and researched and compiled by Warc, show that after nine consecutive quarters of year-on-year decline, total adspend is predicted to return to growth in Q3 2010.

Based on the latest data in the AA/Warc Expenditure Report, total UK adspend for full year 2009 is now expected to be down -12.7% year-on-year at current prices, or down -14.6% at constant prices, representing the worst recession for the advertising industry since the AA/Warc quarterly survey began in 1982. Looking forward, the AA and Warc forecast that advertising spend in Q3 2010 will rise by a modest +2.8% – the first increase since Q1 2008.

Tim Lefroy, Chief Executive of The Advertising Association, comments: "The underlying data shows not just the painful recession effect overall but the dynamic reshaping of the UK advertising landscape. For some it's the perfect storm, for others the perfect opportunity."

Rufus Olins, Chief Executive of Warc, says: “There is clear evidence that the UK’s worst media recession in three decades was bottoming out by autumn 2009, and prospects for a return to growth in adspend later this year are now good. However, as recent UK economic data has shown, the recovery is still fragile.”

AA/Warc Expenditure Report

Tim Lefroy, Chief Executive of the Advertising Association comments, “Hastings has focused on internal creative processes and research, and not on the final execution which is subject to stringent codes of practice and compliance procedures.

The advertising codes ensure that alcohol advertising is not aimed at, and does not target, young people who are under-age. The ASA proactively monitors alcohol ads to ensure they are complying with the rules; and enforcement of the advertising codes is robust".