HC Deb 23 April 1959 vol 604 cc591-3
46. Mr. Shinwell

asked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that there is doubt regarding the application of the Representation of the People Act to arrangements for allocating television broadcasting between the political parties and candidates in a General Election; and if he will institute an inquiry for the purpose of drafting clarifying legislation, and report the result to the House.

Mr. R. A. Butler

I have been asked to reply.

I hope that any doubts there may have been about the arrangements announced so far for political broadcasting at the General Election will have been resolved by the statement issued by the British Broadcasting Corporation on 17th of April. With regard to the second part of the Question, we do not think that it is necessary to set up an inquiry.

Mr. Shinwell

If the Government are not prepared to set up an inquiry into the relations between television broadcasting for the election and Representation of the People Act, has the right hon. Gentleman taken notice of pronouncements by the two television corporations about their intentions in a General Election, and would it not be advisable for the Government, in order to clear up any doubt about these matters, to issue a Government statement and not leave it to the television corporations to make their determination? Could a statement not be embodied in the OFFICIAL REPORT, if there is no alternative?

Mr. Butler

I am putting the B.B.C. statement in the Library for the benefit of hon. Members. So far on the I.T.A. side the only proposals announced are those of the Granada Company, and I understand that legal advice has been taken by the Authority in relation to the validity or otherwise of the company's proposals. Therefore, I think it is a little premature to adopt the right hon. Gentleman's suggestion, but I think it would be right for me to keep in touch with the Leader of the Opposition and hon. Members so that if a statement were necessary it could be made to alleviate fears about the possible operation of the Representation of the People Act in relation to these proposals.

Mr. Shinwell

While I am grateful to the right hon. Gentleman for what he has just said, because I think this may clear up some of the ambiguities, will he take note of the announcement by the Granada Television Company and the pronouncement by the B.B.C., which appear to be in conflict?

Mr. Butler

Granada is a company and its proposals have been examined by the Authority. Until we have the Authority's view, coupled possibly with its view based on legal advice, I do not think we can make any progress on that. I think that it will be important to be quite clear that hon. Members are satisfied with the arrangements, and it is at that stage that it may be necessary to say something further.

Mr. Gaitskell

Can the Home Secretary say whether the guidance of the Government and their legal advisers has been sought by the I.T.A. or any of the television companies on this, and would he not agree that it is desirable, as my right hon. Friend suggested, that in some appropriate form a clear statement should be made giving an authoritative explanation of the legal points so far as the Government are able to do that?

Mr. Butler

Yes, Sir. I think that it would be valuable, as I said, if we could exchange views with the Opposition and with any hon. Members, because as the right hon. Gentleman said before, this is not a matter only for the Front Benches, before we decide to make a statement. I know that my noble Friend is also interested from a letter I read of his in a newspaper. It is likely that a little more consultation is necessary. In answer to the right hon. Gentlemans supplementary question, I do not think there has been any formal contact or formal advice, and so far as we can see from our point of view the statement made by the B.B.C. will stand up in law.