HC Deb 20 March 1957 vol 567 cc369-70
17 Mr. G. Thomas

asked the Postmaster-General (1) what steps have been taken to increase the staff of the news editor of the Welsh Region of the British Broadcasting Corporation, in accord with the Report of the Ince Committee of Inquiry;

(2) whether he is now able to make a statement on the steps taken by the British Broadcasting Corporation to implement the recommendations of the Ince Report with regard to an improved news service in Wales.

Mr. Marples

The B.B.C. has informed me that the Ince Report recommendation that the B.B.C. in Wales should consider adjusting the staffing to enable more positive steps to be taken to obtain news, is accepted and is being implemented.

Mr. G. Thomas

Is the Postmaster-General able to assure us that the lack of balance which was admitted in the Report will now cease, and that adequate financial resources will be made available to the Welsh B.B.C. to increase the number who are collecting news for it?

Mr. Marples

I prefer not to go into the day-to-day administration of the B.B.C. in this respect, but the B.B.C. has accepted that Report in principle, and has already taken steps to see that it is implemented.

Mr. Ness Edwards

Will the right hon. Gentleman impress upon the National Broadcasting Council for Wales, which is his instrument in this matter, the necessity to pay close attention to this Report and to ensure that cause for complaint will not arise on the same count again?

Mr. Marples

I can assure the right hon. Gentleman that I have here a detailed report of all that the National Broadcasting Council for Wales has done, and I think it has taken steps to implement that Report.

Mr. G. Thomas

On a point of order In view of the fact that the Postmaster-General has revealed that he has information——

Mr. Fell

A point of order?

Mr. Thomas

I am on a point of order. The hon. Member should be patient. In view of the fact that the Postmaster-General has revealed that he has the information for which I asked, would not it be in order for me to press him to give the information to the House and——

Mr. Fell

That is not a point of order.

Mr. Thomas

There is only one Speaker in this House that I know of. Would it be in order for me to press him to give the information to the House so that people in Wales may also know the answer?

Mr. Speaker

It is in order for the hon. Member to do so at another time.

Mr. E. Fletcher

Further to that point of order. Surely, Mr. Speaker, if a Minister in reply to a question says, "I have the information here", that can be of no possible benefit or advantage to anybody unless the Minister is going to publish that information in HANSARD. May we not, Mr. Speaker, have it laid down that if a Minister refers to a document he shall at any rate publish it in HANSARD?

Mr. Speaker

I did not hear the right hon. Gentleman read from any document.