HC Deb 24 November 1960 vol 630 cc1306-8
38. Mr. Donnelly

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is now in a position to make a statement regarding his consultations with the Postmaster-General as to the continued holding on a commercial television licence by the Daily News group.

47. Mr. Wyatt

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is now in a position to make a statement regarding his consultations with the Postmaster-General as to the continued holding of a commercial television licence by the Daily News group.

Mr. R. A. Butler

I have consulted my right hon. Friend, the Postmaster-General, and understand that the programme contractor for north-east England is not Daily News, Ltd., but Tyne Tees Television, Ltd., and that Daily News, Ltd., is only a minority shareholder. The Independent Television Authority is solely responsible, under the Television Act, for the appointment of programme contractors and for settling any matters arising from the contracts. I am informed, however, by the Authority that the granting of this contract was not made conditional upon Daily News, Ltd., continuing to own newspapers.

Mr. Donnelly

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that, notwithstanding the last part of his Answer, it has been the policy to encourage firms which have associations with newspapers, and that a number of other applications were made for this particular television licence which was granted to Tyne Tees Television, Ltd.? These were applications by newspapers which are still in existence. Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether this licence would have been granted if the Daily News had not been a newspaper at that time?

Mr. Butler

No, Sir. I cannot give that answer without notice. I think that the best thing would be for the hon. Gentleman to put down a Question to my right hon. Friend the Postmaster-General.

Mr. Mayhew

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether, when this licence was granted, a submission was made that the Daily News had a Liberal point of view, and whether this was taken into account?

Mr. Butler

I have said that the granting of this contract was not made conditional on the Daily News continuing to own newspapers. As to the detailed point raised by the hon. Gentleman, I cannot give him an exact answer.

Mr. Gordon Walker

Surely, the right hon. Gentleman realises that this was in fact a consideration that was taken into account when the licence was awarded and, therefore, the whole of the basis on which the licence was awarded has now been destroyed? This is a very serious matter.

Mr. Butler

That may well be so, but the technical position is as I have stated and I cannot take it any further.

Mr. Gaitskell

Whatever the technical position may be, is it not a fact that Tyne Tees, Ltd. was granted this contract largely because of the Daily News holding in it and because the Daily News represented a Liberal newspaper which it now no longer owns? Is this not a matter that the Government ought to consider more seriously, and will the right hon. Gentleman have further consultations with the Postmaster-General with a view to seeing what can be done?

Mr. Butler

I am certainly quite ready to have further consultation, but one cannot get away from the fact that when this contract was made this condition was not laid down, which might have been a very good thing.