HC Deb 15 May 1957 vol 570 cc387-8
19. Mr. Ness Edwards

asked the Postmaster-General if he will make a statement relating to the duration of the British Broadcasting Corporation charter.

Mr. Marples

The Government will certainly wish to consider, at the appropriate time, the extension of the B.B.C. charter, which runs to 30th June, 1962, to make its currency coincide with the period provided in the Television Act for the I.T.A. services, but it is too early to make a definite statement.

Mr. Ness Edwards

Is that why the right hon. Gentleman made his statement, in a speech outside this House, that the Government intended to allow the charter to run for another two years?

Mr. Marples

There was nothing new in the statement that I made outside the House. I merely restated what was said in the House of Lords by the then Postmaster-General, my noble Friend, Lord De La Warr. He said that, first, everybody was agreed that there should be a comprehensive review, and secondly, that the life of the Authority and the B.B.C. charters should end together. That was said on 12th July, 1954, in the House of Lords.