HC Deb 28 November 1951 vol 494 cc1519-21
The Assistant Postmaster-General (Mr. David Gammans)

With your permission, Mr. Speaker, I desire to make a statement regarding the British Broadcasting Corporation.

The House is already aware that the Charter and Licence of the Corporation expire on 31st December, 1951. The Government have given preliminary consideration to the recommendations of the Broadcasting Committee, to the Memorandum on the Report presented by the late Government in July last, and to the views expressed in the debates which took place in this House and in another place in the same month.

The Government feel that it is impossible for them to reach final decisions on the important issues involved—particularly on those matters on which criticisms were expressed in the debates—in time for a new Charter and Licence for a term of years to operate from 1st January, 1952. The House will realise that when decisions have been taken, some time is required for the drafting of the documents and for the proceedings in Parliament.

The Government propose, therefore, to recommend to The King that a new Charter should be granted for a period of six months so as to afford reasonable time for the examination of the terms of a longer-term Charter, and for consideration by Parliament. A new Licence covering this period will also be issued.

The short-term Charter and Licence will incorporate the provisions of the documents now in force except for a variation in the financial arrangements. In the present economic circumstances, the Government have decided to adopt from 1st January the proposal of the late Government that the Parliamentary grant to the B.B.C. should be at the rate of 85 per cent. of net licence revenue, and the new Licence will accordingly provide for that percentage to apply for the extension period.

The Government propose to recommend to His Majesty the re-appointment of the Governors for six months, ending 30th June, 1952.

Mr. Herbert Morrison

We naturally take note that this is another case where the Government require a substantial period of time to make up their mind about a matter which was well before the last Parliament and was debated there. I do not make too much of it, because we are getting fully accustomed to the fact that this Government require a lot of time to decide anything.

But presumably the Government will, if there are material or notable changes, present another White Paper on their proposals, and I gather the House will have an opportunity of debating the matter before the new Charter is settled. One would have hoped that, at the end of six months, we would have been able to settle this matter. I presume, and perhaps the hon. Gentleman will tell us, that the re-appointment of the Governors for six months will include the Chairman of the Corporation?

Mr. Gammons

As to the latter part of the question, the re-appointment of the Governors is, of course, a matter for His Majesty the King. With regard to the first point which the right hon. Gentleman raised, if the proposals of the Government differ substantially from those of the late Government, then some form of White Paper will certainly be issued. So far as the Licence is concerned, that has to be presented to this House in any case.

Mr. John Profumo

Is my hon. Friend aware that the late Government took a period of about six months to try to make up their minds on this problem, and even then came to no conclusion; and that the Government's decision to take an adequate time to discuss and look into this very important problem will be very widely welcomed?

May I ask him if he is aware of the fact that there is a considerable body of opinion, not only in this House but in the country in general, that the new Charter should embrace a provision for the licensing of alternative broadcasting agencies, particularly in television, so that, in spite of cuts in revenue, there should be wider and better programmes without any further cost to the nation?

Mr. Gammans

The Government realise that there are differences of opinion, and they feel that further consideration of this matter is desirable.

Mr. Eric Fletcher

Is the hon. Gentleman in a position to tell us the policy of the Government with regard to the recommendations of the Report on the subject of television?

Mr. Gammans

No, Sir; not at this moment.

Mr. Ness Edwards

Do we take it that the Government have now turned down the statement of policy made in the recent debate by the right hon. Gentleman who now occupies the Chair?

Mr. Gammans

The right hon. Gentleman should suppose nothing of the sort.

Several hon. Members

rose—

Mr. Speaker

We are to have a further statement on this matter in a short time.