HC Deb 01 July 1959 vol 608 cc451-6
33. Mr. Teeling

asked the Postmaster-General if he will use his powers under Section 15 (4) of the Licence and Agreement to require the British Broadcasting Corporation to refrain from sending on 23rd August a programme entitled, "The Week's Good Cause", in which an appeal is to be made by the Bishop of Southwark on behalf of the Family Planning Association, in view of the controversy aroused in Christian circles by the subject of birth control and the resentment which will be caused to many of them in the United Kingdom.

Mr. Marples

No, Sir. I do not think it appropriate to use the powers of direction under Clause 15 (4) of the Licence and Agreement, as suggested by my hon. Friend. I think we should do well to leave this matter to the Governors of the B.B.C. who in this sphere have the help of their Appeals Advisory Committees.

Mr. Teeling

Does my right hon. Friend realise that the main object of my asking the Question is to see that this appeal should not be made on "The Week's Good Cause," as the Family Planning Association, which used to be called the Birth Control Association, is a very controversial body and definitely advises that married women should go in for contraception and birth control without the knowledge or permission of their husbands? Would it not be wiser for this to be debated? Could it not be dealt with as a debatable subject so that it could be answered? Is he further aware that Sir Ian Jacob told me that the questions of birth control and contra- ception would not be brought up? If that is so, is not the Bishop of Southwark making an appeal for money under false pretences and—?

Mr. Speaker

Order.

Mr. Marples

It is for the B.B.C. to decide. The B.B.C. has informed me that in allowing it several factors were taken into account. First, the B.B.C. Appeals Advisory Committee raised no objection. Secondly, local authorities, the regional hospital boards, doctors and others send cases to the Family Planning Association. Thirdly, the Family Planning Association is not concerned only with birth control; in fact, it helps married couples who find themselves sterile and wish to have children. In those circumstances, I do not think that I could possibly use the powers given under the Section.

Mrs. L. Jeger

Will the Minister also bear in mind that the Royal Commission on Population recommended that family planning facilities should be a part of the National Health Service and that it is only in default of that having been instituted that these appeals for voluntary funds still have to be made? Will he remind his hon. Friend the Member for Brighton, Pavilion (Mr. Teeling) that the Lambeth Conference has given its blessing not only to family planning facilities, which this Association provides, but also to its compassionate and very Christian work in helping couples to have children who are otherwise unable to do so?

Mr. Marples

I should not like to enter into this controversy. I have given my Answer, which is a reasonable Answer in all the circumstances.

38. Mr. Patrick Maitland

asked the Postmaster-General what notice he has given to the British Broadcasting Corporation to refrain from including in "The Week's Good Cause" publicity for actions which large bodies of Christian opinion hold to be bad; and whether he will now give notice to the British Broadcasting Corporation to refrain from including in its "The Week's Good Cause" programme publicity for such controversial practices as euthanasia, abortion and birth control, or for persons or organisations advocating them.

Mr. Marples

None, Sir. On the second part of the Question, as I have already said in reply to the hon. Member for Brighton, Pavilion (Mr. Teeling) I think that we should do well to leave matters such as these to the discretion of the Governors of the B.B.C.

Mr. Patrick Maitland

Will my right hon. Friend bear three points in mind? First, no amount of popularity makes a bad action good. Secondly, in this particular matter we are dealing with something highly controversial and the proposal that this should be broadcast in "The Week's Good Cause" means that the B.B.C. is declaring it to be good. Thirdly, there has been much misrepresentation about the Lambeth Conference resolutions, which should be studied together from 1908 onwards.

Mr. Marples

That may be so. I did not make that decision because it was a popular decision. I had no idea whether it was popular or unpopular. I made it because I considered it my duty on the evidence available. As to the Question on the Order Paper. I do not know of any charitable organisation which would carry out such illegal practices as abortion, and so on. Therefore, it is not likely that an appeal would be asked for, and it is certainly unlikely that it would ever be allowed.

Mrs. Mann

On a point of order. Up to now, we have been assured at the Table that we cannot possibly put down a Question to the Postmaster-General on the programmes of the B.B.C. As recently as the controversy over the Scottish B.B.C. Orchestra, several hon. Members were turned away from the Table because the Postmaster-General had no responsibility. How do these Questions come to be on the Order Paper today?

Mr. Speaker

They are not asking about particular items in the programmes, which are the responsibility of the British Broadcasting Corporation. Question No. 33 was about certain powers which the Postmaster-General has under Section 15 of the Licence and Agreement. It all depends on how the Question is phrased and what it refers to.

Mr. Ness Edwards

Further to that point of order. A number of right hon. and hon. Gentlemen have experienced difficulty in putting on the Order Paper Questions relating to particular items. This Question raises a very important item that is to appear in a B.B.C. programme. The right hon. Gentleman has accepted responsibility for answering it. It is rather strange that this Question has been allowed to come on to the Order Paper when so many others of a similar type have been refused.

Mr. Speaker

I admit that sometimes the borderline is rather difficult to see, but I think that this Question is in order. If an hon. Member has difficulty with a Question and is dissatisfied with its rejection, I am always very willing to see the hon. Member to try to explain the matter.

Mr. J. Griffiths

Further to that point of order. Are we to understand that, if an hon. Member asks the Postmaster-General what notice he has given to the B.B.C. about any particular programme, that will be in order?

Mr. Speaker

I should not like to give a general answer about all sorts of questions. This Question, I am told, is in order.

Mr. Dugdale

Further to that point of order, Mr. Speaker. You said that it was not a specific case, but the Question specifically names a broadcast on 23rd August entitled "The Week's Good Cause". It seems to me to be definitely specific.

Mr. Speaker

One would have to consult the Licence and Agreement to ascertain exactly what powers the Postmaster-General has. I have not the Licence and Agreement with me. I do not carry it in my head. It may be that a Question can be framed with reference to it which is in order, whereas other general questions about programmes infringe upon the B.B.C.'s own responsibility.

Mr. Ness Edwards

Further to that point of order. You will notice that the Question is framed on the assumption that the Postmaster-General has given notice to the B.B.C. The Question says: what notice he has given to the British Broadcasting Corporation the assumption being that the right hon. Gentleman has given notice. Why is a Question which is drafted in this form, assuming something which has not taken place, allowed on the Order Paper?

Mr. Speaker

If an hon. Member makes a statement of a fact or assumes a fact in his Question, he is responsible, not the Table.

Mr. Patrick Maitland

Further to that point of order. In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I beg to give notice that I shall raise this matter on the Adjournment.

39. Sir F. Medlicott

asked the Postmaster-General what representations he has received concerning the programme, "The Week's Good Cause", which is proposed to be broadcast by the British Broadcasting Corporation on 23rd August; and what consideration he is giving to the use of his powers under Section 15 (4) of the Licence and Agreement to prohibit such programmes from being broadcast.

Mr. Marples

Up to 30th June I had received nine letters in favour of the broadcast taking place, one of which was signed by 28 people, and 41 letters against it.

In answer to the second part of the Question, I have already said in answer to the hon. Member for Brighton, Pavilion (Mr. Teeling) that I do not consider the use of the powers of direction under Clause 15 (4) of the B.B.C.'s Licence and Agreement appropriate.

Sir F. Medlicott

Is my right hon. Friend aware that every 300 days the population of the world is increasing by more than the total who were killed in both world wars and that the justification for this broadcast is that many people are gravely perturbed at the prospect of unlimited numbers of children being brought into a world which, even now, is unable to provide for millions of them enough food, shelter or clothing?

Mr. Marples

I did not carry those statistics in my head. The best thing I can do is to send the details of this to the B.B.C. and ask the B.B.C. if it will show them to the chairman of the Appeals Advisory Committee so that he will know the views of hon. Members.

Mr. Ness Edwards

Will the right hon. Gentleman refrain from becoming a party to sectarian pressures about a highly controversial matter? Will he, as usual, endeavour to keep himself completely above the battle?

Mr. Marples

That is exactly why I will not enter into the controversy and exactly why I refuse to do so. This is a matter for the B.B.C. If any hon. Members in any part of the House have any expression of opinion and wish to put it forward, it is for the B.B.C. and not for me to consider it.

Mr. J. Griffiths

Will not the right hon. Gentleman agree that it is, I hope, the desire now on both sides of the House—may we convey this to some of the hon. Members who have asked these Questions—that we want them to show to people with other views the same tolerance as the House has shown to them?

Mr. Telling

On a point of order. The Postmaster-General has said that he has sent me some letters. I have received no letters from him, but I have received over 200 letters on this subject.

Mr. Speaker

That is not a point of order for me. This matter is to be raised on the Adjournment later.

Mr. Marples

I never said that I had sent any letters to my hon. Friend.