§ LORD KENNETMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government if they are aware that the B.B.C. intend to broadcast to the sixth forms of schools on 15th November a text called "Charles de Gaulle" and whether this transmission falls within the terms of their licence.]
LORD ST. OSWALDYes, my Lords. The transmission of broadcasts is both the function and duty of the B.B.C., and they see schools broadcasts as a vital part of their function. For the rest, as I have often pointed out to your Lordships in the past, programme content is a matter for the Corporation itself.
§ LORD KENNETMy Lords, is it the opinion of Her Majesty's Government that such judgments as the following:
The Head of the French State has in many respects already passed living into history, if not into legend";and again:One man alone was capable of raising France from the rut where she had wallowed. This is no conjecture; it is the irrefutable testimony of history";and again:This man of Providence"—are appropriate in educational schools broadcasts in languages?
LORD ST. OSWALDMy Lords, what I should really need to point out to the noble Lord here is that he is not quoting from the broadcast itself, which has not yet been delivered; he is quoting from the text of the leaflet introducing the broadcast. I think that we can leave it to the B.B.C., with their known high standards of impartiality, to do nothing which would offend against the general understanding laid down in their Licence as regards impartiality.
§ LORD KENNETMy Lords, is not a document which is circulated to sixth formers strictly equivalent to a broadcast which may later be made to them?
§ LORD MERRIVALEMy Lords, would my noble friend not agree that the story of someone whose life has been characterised by patriotism and uprightness, and whose consideration has solely been for the good of his country, is a worthy subject for setting as an example to young men who are starting in this life?
§ VISCOUNT HAILSHAMMy Lords, the Question related to the action of the B.B.C. in transmitting a broadcast, and I think it would be out of place here that we should enter into a debate on the merits of the Head of the French State, for whom we in this House all have a profound respect.
§ LORD LATHAMMy Lords, would the noble Lord say whether the leaflet referred to was printed and published by the B.B.C.?
§ BARONESS HORSBRUGHMy Lords, if the suggestion is made that there should be no broadcasts on outstanding people, living or dead, in other countries, will the noble Lord consider whether any information, let us say, about Napoleon should be taken out of the history books as soon as possible?
LORD ST. OSWALDMy Lords, in answer to the noble Lady's question, I must again say that programme content is not a matter for Government suggestion but only for Government control if and when it is thought that it may have transgressed the Licence. The only section which enables the Government to require the B.B.C. not to make a particular broadcast is Section 15 (4), and this has never been used to prohibit a particular broadcast but only to request the suppression of a certain range or a certain type of broadcast.
LORD REAMy Lords, would the noble Lord agree that the broadcast content does not necessarily represent the political or other views of the B.B.C., the Government or the Opposition?