§ 1. Mr. McAddenasked the Minister of Supply why he withheld the film issued by his Department on guided missiles from other sources of information until it had been included in the British Broadcasting Corporation's television programme "Panorama."
§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Supply (Mr. F. J. Erroll)It is extremely difficult to time releases of information material so as to ensure that no one ciné news agency can gain an advantage over another, although the Ministry of Supply makes every effort to be fair to all. In this particular instance the timing of the release at 8.30 p.m. on Monday, 20th February, did give the British Broadcasting Corporation an advantage since it had a magazine programme arranged for that hour, but the material was not new and had in fact been shown to the public at the Farnborough shows in September, 1953, and July, 1955, while still photographs from this film have already been published in the Press. Moreover, the British Broadcasting Corporation had asked for permission to use this material as long ago as August, 1955.
§ Mr. McAddenThat is all very well, but will my hon. Friend say whether the timing of this release at that hour, which, very fortunately, coincided with the wishes of the B.B.C., was done to please the B.B.C. or was just fortuitous?
§ Mr. ErrollIt was not done specifically to please the B.B.C. As the material had not, in fact, been formally released before, it was natural that, although it was old magazine material, the release time should be put on for the benefit of anyone else who might make inquiries.