HC Deb 19 May 1952 vol 501 cc190-1

Motion made, and Question proposed, "That the Clause stand part of the Bill."

Mr. N. Macpherson

While I do not quarrel with the general purpose of this Clause, which is intended to correct an anomaly that has arisen, there is one small point I should like to bring to the attention of the Chancellor relating to the definition of radio relay services. It seems to me just as well, if we are putting a definition in the Finance Bill, that we should make it in such a form as will last for some time. It is no criticism of the Parliamentary draftsmen or anyone else that this definition no longer happens to be up to date or in accordance with the policy of the Government.

Since the Clause was drafted, the Government's White Paper on broadcasting has appeared and it says that in future the broadcasting monopoly, which exists in fact if not in law, will no longer continue to operate. It seems, therefore, that the definition should be brought into line. It may be done by the addition of two words where it says: 'radio relay service' means the retransmission by wire to their customers of broadcast programmes (which may or may not be television programmes) which the persons carrying on the service receive either by wire or by wireless from the British Broadcasting Corporation or from the persons outside the United Kingdom who broadcast the programmes —. All we need to put in is: "or from persons inside or" before outside the United Kingdom. I trust that the Chancellor will make that amendment during the next stage of the Bill in order to bring the Clause into line with the intentions of Her Majesty's Government.

Clause ordered to stand part of the Bill.