HC Deb 10 December 1959 vol 615 cc740-1
45. Mr. Donnelly

asked the Prime Minister what consideration he has given to the possibility of a limited daily period of televising the proceedings of the House of Commons comparable to the existing reports on sound radio; and whether he will order an inquiry into the practicalities of such a proposal.

The Prime Minister (Mr. Harold Macmillan)

Examination of this and related proposals is in progress and I am not yet in a position to make a statement. Account is being taken of the practical aspects in the inquiries which are being made.

Mr. Donnelly

I did not quite hear what the right hon. Gentleman said, but I understand that an inquiry is in progress. Is that right?

The Prime Minister

I shall repeat my Answer: Examination of this and related proposals is in progress and I am not yet in a position to make a statement. Account is being taken of the practical aspects in the inquiries which are being made.

Sir T. Moore

I still say, "God forbid".

Mr. Speaker

Mr. Donnelly.

Several Hon. Members rose

—

Mr. Speaker

I called Mr. Donnelly.

Mr. Donnelly

If I might come between God and the House for a second, may I ask the Prime Minister what form the inquiries are taking?

The Prime Minister

As my right hon. Friend the Leader of the House informed the House, we are receiving different views and are considering this matter. I hope it will be possible soon to make a statement, but it is quite clear that there are different points of view in the House and I think the Government would be very ill-advised to reach any decision except through a general discussion of what was the broad view of the House.

Mr. Peyton

Before the inquiry goes too far, will my right hon. Friend bear in mind that many people regard the suggestion as a very bad one? Will he also bear in mind the very strong possibility that the public might not find our debates as exciting as they expect?

The Prime Minister

That is just it. Some people think it is a good idea and others think it is a bad one. The problem is to weigh the balance of opinion, and that is another question altogether from that to which the hon. Member for Pembroke (Mr. Donnelly) referred, the technical problems, which also require consideration.

Mr. Gaitskell

As this obviously is a matter which concerns the House of Commons as a whole, is there not something to be said for clarifying the situation by the appointment of a Select Committee to go into the practical aspects of the matter, the experience of other countries and arguments for and against?

The Prime Minister

I shall certainly consider that. Certainly it affects the House as a whole; it also affects the long-suffering public.

Mr. Morris

Does not the Prime Minister agree that it would have been an invaluable experience for the people of this country to have seen on television the end of the debate about the policy of apartheid at three minutes to ten on Monday evening, the terrible display and shouting—started by the Government—and the part played by the Prime Minister himself?

The Prime Minister

It would be quite interesting for the public to see all sorts of things we do, but what lessons they would learn I hesitate to lay down.