§ 45 Mr. Ellis Smithasked the Prime Minister (1) if he will make a statement on the consultations which have taken place on the advisability of televising the proceedings of the House of Commons; what arrangements are proposed; and if he will make a statement;
(2) if he will consult the British Broadcasting Corporation with a view to making preparations for the proceedings during Question Time in the House of Commons to be filmed and shown on television at the maximum viewing time on a Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday after the Christmas Recess;
(3) whether, during his consultations about televising the proceedings of the House of Commons, he will ensure that the whole of Question Time shall be televised unedited, and that any other proceedings which are televised shall be broadcast unedited wherever practicable.
§ 48. Mr. Frank Allaunasked the Prime Minister if he will consult the British Broadcasting Corporation and the Independent Television Authority, with a view to the preparation of 15-minute programmes to be televised nightly similar to "Today in Parliament" on sound broadcasting.
§ The Prime Minister (Mr. Harold Macmillan)I am not yet in a position to add to the reply I gave on 10th December to the hon. Member for Pembroke (Mr. Donnelly).
§ Mr. Ellis SmithWill the Prime Minister bear in mind, in regard to Question No. 46, that there are no technical 1645 reasons against that, and, if the Prime Minister accepts that there are no technical reasons why it should not be applied, will he consider an experiment based upon the suggestions in the Question in order that the matter can be considered?
§ The Prime MinisterAs I have said before, I do not think it is a question for me or even for the Government, but a question for the House of Commons as a whole. It is not whether I will consider these things or not, but that the whole House must try to decide what it wishes in this matter. I have only said that we are making some inquiries, both on the technical points and on the other side of it, and I hope very soon after we, return to be able to take the matter further. I regard it as essentially a House of Commons question for the House of Commons as a whole.
§ Mr. AllaunDoes not the Prime Minister feel that television, properly used, now provides man with the possibility of a truer democracy. since he can both see and judge his elected representatives at work? In the inquiries now taking place, will the Prime Minister bear in mind that, while showing for eight hours a day will probably kill off most viewers or, at least, their interest, a shorter version produced on the admirable lines of "Today in Parliament" might stimulate interest in politics?
§ The Prime MinisterI think there are some rather double-edged points in what the hon. Gentleman has said, but I am very grateful for his tribute to my election broadcast.
§ Mr. GowerMay I ask the Prime Minister if, in any consideration of this matter through the usual channels or otherwise, he will consider the importance of the proposition that if any decision is taken, the television authorities, all of them, should have complete freedom to edit such proceedings broadcast in the way which they think proper, and not in a way necessarily to suit the desires of this House? In other words, hon. Members should not have the slightest idea what stage of the proceedings would be likely to be televised?
§ The Prime MinisterAll these questions arise, and parts of them, of course, depend on some of the technicalities of photography and so forth.
§ Mr. GaitskellIn view of the Prime Minister's comment that this was essentially a matter for the House as a whole, which I warmly welcome, has he had time to consider the suggestion I made a few days ago that this is a matter which could very well be considered by a Select Committee of this House?
§ The Prime MinisterYes, Sir; we shall take that into account. I think the first thing is to get certain technical information available for the committee or any other method.