§ 6. Mr. F. Noel-Bakerasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what communication he has received from the Independent Television Authority regarding an inquiry into the influence of television programmes on crime; what reply he has made; and if he will make a statement.
§ The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Mr. R. A. Butler)I am grateful for the proposals which have been made to me by the Chairman of the Independent Television Authority for an inquiry into the impact of television on society. I have been studying them in the light of the available information about other research in this field. I hope to arrange further discussions both with the Independent Television Authority and with the British Broadcasting Corporation, and in due course I shall make a further statement.
§ Mr. Noel-BakerI am sure that the House will welcome the Home Secretary's assurance that this is an important matter and that an inquiry would be useful, but would he not agree that the inquiry would be very much more useful if it were conducted under auspices that could be shown to be, and generally seen to be, entirely impartial?
§ Mr. ButlerI see no reason why an inquiry should not be conducted in such circumstances.