HC Deb 22 February 1962 vol 654 cc627-9
Q1. Mr. Ellis Smith

asked the Prime Minister if he will make a further statement in continuation of the Answers he gave to the hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent, South on 3rd February, 1959, and on 17th December, 1959, about televising proceedings in the House, and if he will now make arrangements for Question Time to be filmed unedited so that it can be shown at the peak viewing time on television; and if he will make arrangements for televising unedited the proceedings of the House of Commons at various times so that people can see and hear their elected representatives and obtain a clearer conception of the proceedings by modern methods.

The Prime Minister (Mr. Harold Macmillan)

No, Sir. This is primarily a question for the House itself and I have had no indication of any change in the general feeling of the House since the matter was discussed in 1959 and again in 1960.

Mr. Ellis Smith

Does the Prime Minister agree that there is an increasing tendency for Ministers to go on television and to make important political statements which gives no opportunity to interrogate them in accordance with the democratic standard of this country? This tends to undermine the status of Parliament. Does the right hon. Gentleman recall that that giant, the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Woodford (Sir W. Churchill) always deprecated this kind of thing? Has not the time arrived when the Prime Minister should reconsider the matter in that light?

The Prime Minister

As I say, I think that this is a matter primarily for the House itself. I have not received any indication of a change of view from that which has been taken. As far as I am concerned, I only want to do what is the general wish of the House, and if there were any reason to suppose that there has been a change of view, of course I and the Leader of the House would consider it.

Mr. Callaghan

I agree with the Prime Minister that this is a matter for the House, but would he care to initiate some further discussions on this matter to see how far opinion has modified since we last discussed it in view of the need that the democratic processes should be as widely understood and appreciated in this country as possible?

The Prime Minister

If the Leader of the Opposition would wish that, I should be very happy to discuss the matter with him.

Mr. Kershaw

Does not my right, hon. Friend think that, if Question Time were televised, supplementary questions would be even longer and more boring than they are at the moment?

The Prime Minister

I doubt the possibility of that.

Mr. Grimond

While appreciating the advantage of a certain amount of editing, may I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether I am right in thinking that he is on record as being not entirely opposed to the televising of some proceedings in Parliament? If so, will he consider whether an inquiry should be held, not only into this particular matter, but into the whole question of an edited or unedited form of televising Parliament and of the use of television in politics at all?

The Prime Minister

Frankly, I do not hold very strong views about this. Naturally, being a somewhat older man, I take very progressive and up-to-date views on these matters. I think that the Leader of the House, the Leader of the Opposition and myself would be very willing to discuss this matter with the right hon. Gentleman again, but I think that here we ought to serve the House and not impose our own views upon it.

Sir G. Nicholson

Would not a suggestion like the one which has just been made merely encourage the exhibitionism and vanity which are occupational hazards of politics?

Dame Irene Ward

For goodness sake, do not get caught up with the others.