HC Deb 27 November 1945 vol 416 cc1079-81
64. Mr. Ernest Davies

asked the Minister of Information whether he is yet ready to make a statement on the setting up of a Television Advisory Committee as envisaged in the Hankey Report on Television.

Mr. E. J. Williams

Yes, Sir. I have set up a Television Advisory Committee of representatives of the interested Government Departments and of the B.B.C. empowered to consult with representatives of industry as necessary. The Chairman is Mr. G. M. Garro Jones and I am circulating in the OFFICIAL REPORT a note of the Committee's composition and functions. I have asked the Committee to press ahead with plans for the re-starting of the London Television Service and for the extension of the service to the Provinces.

Mr. Davies

Will my right hon. Friend consider giving instructions to his com mittee as to the priorities they should consider, that is, whether the question of the finance of television or the question of research should be considered first? Further, will they report to him or to the Postmaster-General?

Mr. Williams

So far as the last part of the supplementary question is concerned, they would, of course, report to me. As regards the first part of the question, I think my hon. Friend will find, if he looks up the note on the definition of the functions of the Committee which I have approved, that that point is fully covered.

Mr. Cobb

Is my right, hon. Friend aware that unless this matter is pushed forward with the greatest urgency we shall lose the export business in television to America?

Mr. Williams

I agree, and I am pressing forward with it.

Following are the Committee's composition and functions:

1. The Television Advisory Committee has been set up by the Minister of Information, in his capacity as the Minister at present responsible for the television services. Its composition is as follows:

Chairman: Mr. G. M. Garro Jones.

Treasury: Mr. R. J. P. Harvey.

Post Office: Colonel Sir Stanley Angwin, Mr. H. Townshend.

Board of Trade: Mr. H. A. Binney. Ministry of Supply: Mr. E. B. Bowyer.

Department of Scientific and Industrial Research: Sir Edward Appleton, Mr. 0. F. Brown.

Ministry of Information: Mr. E. St. J. Bamford, Mr. H. G. G. Welch.

British Broadcasting Corporation: Mr. W. J. Haley, Sir Noel Ashbridge.

The Acting Secretaries of the Committee are Mr. G. Kirk (Ministry of Information) and Mr. H. D. Bickley (Post Office).

2. The Minister of Information has approved the following definition of the functions of the Committee:

The Television Advisory Committee will advise the responsible Minister on television policy with particular reference to the following points:

  1. (a)the planning, after consultation with industry, of the future television service, including the standards to be adopted;
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  2. (b)the co-ordination and, where necessary, the initiation of research into the principles and practice of television;
  3. (c)the encouragement of pooling of television patents and their use in the national interest;
  4. (d)the investigation of all developments on television at home and abroad, including its use for cinemas, bearing in mind the importance of the export trade and the desirability of the adoption of international television standards.

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