Advisory Committee (Wind-up)

HC Deb 22 July 1953 vol 518 cc362-3

18. Miss Burton

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General whether he is aware that the Sports Television Advisory Committee has not met for more than 18 months; that hon. Members who are interested cannot obtain a reply either from his Department or from the Chairman of the Committee; and if he will, therefore, make a statement concerning the future of this committee.

Mr. Gammans

The Committee's task was to ascertain the direct and indirect effects of televising sports events, but in an interim report they stated that these effects could not be accurately assessed for a long time. My noble Friend has accordingly decided with the agreement of the Chairman, Lord Beatty, to wind up the Committee; and he has asked me to express publicly on his behalf, and I am sure equally on behalf of his predecessor in office, his gratitude and appreciation of the valuable work this Committee has done. I should like to add that the British Broadcasting Corporation has been in close consultation with the sporting interests, and we feel this is the best way of dealing with the problem of showing more sport on television.

Miss Burton

Is the Assistant Postmaster-General aware of the very grave discourtesy with which this Government have treated this Committee? Is he aware that, from 1st July of last year, I and my hon. Friends have tried without any success to get an answer from him or the Chairman of the Committee, and does he not think a Government Committee should have been informed within 12 months whether or not their services were required?

Mr. Gammans

There was certainly no intention of discourtesy to the hon. Lady or to any other member of the Committee, but there was an interim report put in and we felt that, as in the meanwhile negotiations have been going on between the B.B.C. and the specific interests concerned, the cause in no way suffered.

Mr. Ness Edwards

May I associate myself with the gratitude expressed by the Assistant Postmaster-General to the members of this Committee for what they have done? It was due to them that the sports ban was broken, and I think they ought to have credit for it. May I also ask whether the Assistant Postmaster-General thinks that it is expressing gratitude to keep this Committee waiting for 12 months for a reply from his Department?

Mr. Gammans

No discourtesy whatever was intended, and, as I have already indicated to the House, negotiations with the B.B.C. and the sporting interests have been going on satisfactorily in the meanwhile.