§ 3. Mr. Mayhewasked the Postmaster-General when he proposes to consult the Independent Television Authority under subsection (4) of section 4 of the Television Act, 1954, with a view to reducing the maximum amount of advertising in any hour from seven minutes to six minutes.
§ Miss PikeMy right hon. Friend does not propose to amend paragraph 2 of the Second Schedule of the Television Act.
§ Mr. MayhewIs the hon. Lady aware that by permitting in the past up to nine-and-a-half minutes advertising in the hour I.T.A. has bestowed more than £10 million of excess profits on the programme companies? May I ask, first, why this scandal is permitted and, secondly, why the maximum is now seven minutes instead of six minutes as originally promised in the House of Commons?
§ Miss PikeI think that the hon. Gentleman knows the difficulties. There has to be a certain amount of flexibility because of the nature of the programmes. I.T.A. is bringing the time down to seven minutes and we are watching this carefully, but there are difficulties about getting these things just spot on.