§ 16. Dr. D. Johnsonasked the Postmaster-General whether he will require the British Broadcasting Corporation, under Section 15 (4) of the Licence and Agreement, to refrain from sending broadcasts by practising members of the medical profession, unless their anonymity is effectively guaranteed.
§ Mr. BevinsThe matter raised by my hon. Friend is really one for the B.B.C. and the medical profession. The inclusion of the surgeon's name in the broadcast I think my hon. Friend has in mind was most unfortunate. It was made inadvertently and the B.B.C. has apologised.
§ Dr. JohnsonDespite what my right hon. Friend says, will he ask the B.B.C. generally to get itself organised on this question of names? I accept that this unfortunate incident happened in the way he has described, but I seem to remember that a year or two ago I got myself into great trouble for using a name which was already entirely public. There does not seem to be any system about the use of names on the B.B.C.
§ Mr. BevinsI have discussed this unfortunate error with the B.B.C. As my hon. Friend knows, the Corporation normally respects the wishes of the General Medical Council that members of the profession should remain anonymous. Even if I were to take the action suggested in the Question, it would not prevent an occasional lapse of this kind occurring.