§ 45. Mr. T. Dribergasked the Prime Minister what progress has now been made towards setting up a Press Council in accordance with the recommendations of the Royal Commission on the Press as unanimously approved by this House on 28th July, 1949.
§ The Prime Minister (Mr. Winston Churchill)Proposals for the establishment of a Press Council are still under discussion between representatives of proprietors, editors and journalists.
§ Mr. DribergIs not two-and-a-half years rather a long time to wait for the carrying-out of the wishes of this House as expressed on the date mentioned in my Question? Can the right hon. Gentleman do anything to expedite these discussions, bearing in mind that the proposals made by the proprietors' were obviously entirely unacceptable and were no doubt intended to be so?
§ The Prime MinisterIs not the hon. Member attempting somewhat to prejudge the course of these discussions by his concluding remarks? I should not think that he would accelerate them very much by making this element of discord. I hope that the discussions will proceed in the most friendly manner and will be consistently aimed at arriving at an agreed result.