REGARDING your article headlined "outrage at job ads bid" (LET, April 2), Liberal Democrat leader County Councillor David Whipp gives an entirely erroneous impression about the monthly publication of the County Council's newspaper, 'Vision'.

The background is plain; the facts simple.

Extensive research with the people of Lancashire tells us that the public want information direct from Lancashire County Council. 'Vision' provides the most cost-effective means to that end.

Enough background; now to the facts. Of course, 'Vision', our sincere attempt to open the processes of local government, must be funded as publication increases to 12 issues per year from the current four. Council Tax payers will be pleased to know that none of these costs falls on them.

In brief, the Council -- one of the largest recruitment advertisers in the North West -- spends a great deal of money on recruitment advertising. The extra copies of 'Vision' will be funded by re-routing a small proportion of that spend from other newspapers.

Councillor Whipp appears to imply, without any evidence, that job advertising will be cut back. That is definitely not the position. He knows that the advertising will continue at the current level, with a portion of it being spent in the County Council's own newspaper, funding monthly publication to meet our aim of open government.

Councillor Whipp says that 'Vision's' monthly advertising deadlines will delay the filling of vacancies. Each department has been told that 'Vision' is only an option available to them. They are still free to advertise for essential staff in other media when a post must be filling swiftly.

What we try to avoid is production of a dull, but worthy, publication that few people will read. That would be a waste of money. Some local authority newspapers are criticised as propaganda organs. Lancashire County Council is very clear and sincere in its belief that news and information must be conveyed in plain English, on subjects that will make good reading -- and be entirely without political bias.

Councillor Whipp knows all this -- and that the Council's spirit of openness has extended to inviting the Liberal Democrats to join 'Vision's' editorial board. The board awaits a response.

MARCUS JOHNSTONE (Cabinet Member for Communications, Information and Lifelong Learning), Lancashire County Council.