§ Mr. Hurdasked the Minister of Information whether it is Government policy to give directives to the B.B.C.; whether it was on his instructions that on Thursday, 22nd November, the series of fortnightly farming discussions under the chairmanship of Professor Sanders of Reading University was broken in order 1079 to provide time for the Minister of Agriculture to speak on agricultural policy; and why time for a short statement by the Minister of Agriculture was not found after an evening news bulletin or in the "Farming Today" period, on the following Thursday evening, without interrupting this discussion series which has been widely advertised.
§ Mr. E. J. WilliamsThe answer to the first and to the second part of the Question is, No, Sir. The answer to the third part is that it was considered that a Ministerial statement intended mainly for the farming community was best given at a time normally devoted to a farming broadcast.
§ Mr. HurdIs the House to understand that this change in the advertised programme of the B.B.C. was made entirely by the free choke of the B.B.C.?
§ Mr. WilliamsI understand that my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture considered that the fanning community would wish to hear his explanation of this important statement of policy at the earliest convenient opportunity, and he informed me so. I think hon. Members will agree that a statement of national policy of this kind ought to take priority over anything else.