HC Deb 17 December 1952 vol 509 cc1381-3
32 and 33. Mr. Hobson

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General (1) whether, when considering the granting of licences for commercial television, he will ensure that no director of a licensed company will be allowed to sit on the Television Advisory Committee;

(2) how far his regulations will empower the new Television Advisory Committee to regulate the conduct of commercial television stations, so as to prevent possible abuses by these stations.

Mr. Gammans

I would refer the hon. Gentleman to paragraph 9 of Command Paper 8550.

Mr. Hobson

While thanking the Assistant Postmaster-General for that reply, may I ask if it means that on any new committee that is set up there will not be appointed any director of a licensed company?

Mr. Gammans

It does not mean that. The hon. Gentleman asked me about the Television Advisory Committee. I am pointing out to him that the body which will have control of commercial radio is an entirely different body to the Television Advisory Committee, the members of which have not yet been appointed.

Mr. C. I. Orr-Ewing

Is the Assistant Postmaster-General aware that there is very widespread satisfaction that on the new Television Advisory Committee there are at least two people who have both knowledge and enthusiasm of their subject, and that this is a great improvement on the previous Television Advisory Committee which was moribund for six years?

Mr. Ness Edwards

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that he is apparently by this kind of appointment making the G.P.O. look like Tammany Hall?

Mr. Gammans

I do not know what the hon. Gentleman means. I can see nothing wrong in appointing to the Television Advisory Committee, which is largely a technical body, members of the industry which has to make the sets.

Mr. Mayhew

Since the Government are apparently contemplating commercially sponsored children's television programmes, to the dismay of all responsible people, why is there no single representative of either teachers or parents to do battle with the five businessmen on this Committee?

Mr. Gammans

I would suggest that the hon. Gentleman reads the White Paper. No decision has been reached whatever with regard to the form that commercial television will take, whether for children or others. What we are talking about now is the Television Advisory Committee, which is a technical body.

Mr. Mayhew

Is the Assistant Postmaster-General aware that his assurance that the Government are not contemplating commercially sponsored children's television programmes will be widely welcomed and carefully noted? Is he also aware that commercially sponsored television programmes for adults will be seen by hundreds of thousands of children throughout the country, and will he, therefore, appoint on the Television Advisory Committee a representative of parents and of teachers?

Mr. Gammans

I do not think that the hon. Gentleman has remembered the White Paper, about which he discourses so eloquently. The body which is now being appointed is a technical body. The body to consider commercial television has not yet been appointed to consider children's or anyone else's television programmes.

38. Mr. G. Jeger

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General why he has not appointed to the Television Advisory Committee any representative of theatrical interests.

Mr. Gammans

The reason was given in my reply of the 30th October, 1952, to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Knutsford (Lieut.-Colonel Bromley-Davenport).

Mr. Jeger

Will the Minister consider this question? Is he not aware that the future of successful television in this country must depend upon all the entertainment industries being co-operative, and will he also see whether he cannot now appoint a representative of the theatre industry to the Television Advisory Committee?

Mr. Gammans

If the hon. Gentleman studies the terms of reference of this Committee, I think that he will realise that it is very largely technical, and that the particular point he raises is not really covered by its terms of reference.

Mr. Jeger

Even on the technical question, the televising of shows from existing theatres would be vastly superior to the televising of shows from studios, and, therefore, on the technical side, it is very necessary that there should be a representative of the theatres on this Committee.

Mr. Gammans

I have no doubt that the Committee will be prepared to receive any representations which the entertainment industry may make.