HC Deb 19 March 1936 vol 310 cc599-602
47. Mr. THURTLE

asked the Prime Minister whether it is his intention to provide Parliament with an early oppor- tunity of discussing the report of the Broadcasting Committee?

The PRIME MINISTER

As has already been stated, the recommendations of the Broadcasting Committee are still under consideration by the Government, and the existing Charter of the British Broadcasting Corporation does not expire until the end Of the present year. The Government cannot, at the present juncture, give special time for the discussion of the committee's report. Opportunities, however, for its discussion will arise in the normal course of business.

Mr. THURTLE

May I take it that the Prime Minister will ascertain the views of the House on this report before he puts forward the recommendations of the Government?

The PRIME MINISTER

I am very anxious that the House should have every opportunity to give its views. It is a very important matter and one which could, of course, be raised at any time on the Post Office Vote, for instance, when the Estimates are introduced after Easter.

Mr. LEES-SMITH

Might I ask the Prime Minister whether his attention was called to the fact that on the same day as this White Paper was presented to the House the British Broadcasting Corporation, which must have had the White Paper before the House received it, issued a report of its own attacking the White Paper, and whether he considers that that is a proper procedure?

The PRIME MINISTER

I am told there is a question on the Paper about that.

93. Sir P. HARRIS

asked the Postmaster-General whether his attention has been called to the observations by the Board of Governors of the British Broadcasting Corporation on the report of the Broadcasting Committee, 1935; whether he is aware that printed copies of this statement were made available immediately after the publication of the report; whether he approved the course taken of allowing an interested party to consider the report and recommendations before they were made available to Parliament; and whether he will take action to prevent the spread of this practice in future?

The POSTMASTER - GENERAL (Major Tryon)

The Broadcasting Committee was a departmental committee appointed by my predecessor, and after they had submitted their signed report I considered it essential to consult the British Broadcasting Corporation, in order to facilitate the Government's consideration of certain recommendations of the committee. It must clearly be open to a Minister to consult any sources of information which he may consider valuable, before presenting to Parliament the report of a departmental committee appointed by him.

Sir P. HARRIS

Does not the right hon. Gentleman realise that the House of Commons has the first right to see any report of a committee appointed in reply to the initiative of this House; secondly, does the right hon. Gentleman realise that this particular committee was of special importance because it affects the future of the British Broadcasting Corporation and the renewal of their charter, and that there have been previous occasions when, in connection with a Royal Commission, the Prime Minister gave an undertaking—in reference to the tithes question—that the precedent would not be followed in other reports?

Major TRYON

Obviously that was a departmental committee and not one appointed by this House, but the Government while considering the matter were entitled to obtain any information they could. We have taken the step of presenting the report to the House before we have finished Government consideration of it, because we wished the House to have it as soon as we could.

Mr. LEES-SMITH

In view of the fact that this report, according to the Postmaster-General's statement, was issued to the British Broadcasting Corporation for official purposes, does he consider it proper that the British Broadcasting Corporation should, on the same day that it was presented to the House, issue comments attacking this report?

Major TRYON

The British Broadcasting Corporation's comments appeared in the Press the next day—[HON. MEMBERS: "The same day" "In the six o'clock news"]—alongside the report as presented to this House, and there was in every morning paper a statement from the British Broadcasting Corporation. The responsibility for furnishing these comments to the Press rests not with me but with the Governors of the British Broadcasting Corporation. On the other hand simultaneously in the Press there appeared comments from other parties who are financially interested in the matter.

Sir A. SINCLAIR

Does the right hon. Gentleman realise that nobody in this House objects to the directors of the British Broadcasting Corporation issuing to the Press any comments they care to make upon the report, but that what we object to is that the report was handed to the directors of the British Broadcasting Corporation before it was brought to this House?

Major TRYON

My point is that the report was not handed to the British Broadcasting Corporation for their information but in order to consult the Corporation to obtain information which the Government wanted for their consideration of the report.

Mr. LEES-SMITH

May I put this matter to the Prime Minister? In view of the fact that this is the second time that complaints of this kind have been raised in the last few weeks, would he, in view of his position as Leader of the House, endeavour to discourage the continuance of this practice?

The PRIME MINISTER

I have had no notice of this question. I must ask the right hon. Gentleman to be good -enough to give me notice of questions of this kind. I am not in a position to give a reply ex tempore.