HC Deb 05 December 1963 vol 685 cc1360-2
Q7. Sir N. Hulbert

asked the Prime Minister if he will seek to arrange a closed circuit televising of the proceedings of this House for an experimental period with a view to ascertaining its practicability for public transmission.

The Prime Minister

I do not think that it would be right to conduct experiments unless I was sure that the House as a whole supported in principle the idea of its proceedings being televised.

Mr. Grimond

Will the Prime Minister reconsider this? It would greatly assist the House in making up its mind if we could see how the proceedings of a day in Parliament could be edited and reproduced on television. Many of us think that it is bound to come eventually and it is important that it should come in an orderly way, with Members having a chance to see for themselves how far it can be done and of meeting any rational criticisms there may be of it.

The Prime Minister

I have not sufficient evidence at present that the House as a whole wants this to be done at all.

Mr. Mayhew

Might it not help Members who are still trying to make up their minds about this idea if a technical inquiry were made, without commitment, into what is actually involved in the technical problem of televising the House—the appearance of television cameras, lighting and so on? Will the right hon. Gentleman consider making such a technical inquiry, without commitment?

The Prime Minister

I think that technical inquiries are a little apt to lead to commitments.

Sir G. Nicholson

Is my right hon. Friend aware that any adoption of television for the proceedings of the House would strike a deadly blow at the traditions of the House, would lead to exhibitionism and self-advertisement, and would destroy the whole purpose for which this House exists?

Mr. H. Wilson

The right hon. Gentleman said that technical inquiries tend to lead to commitments. Will he think about that comment again and consider whether technical inquiries might be possible? Does not he remember that, the other day, he said that a technical inquiry, in which he is fully participating, into the mixed-manned force did not lead to a commitment? Which is the truth?

The Prime Minister

I think that the right hon. Gentleman did not hear me aright. I said that technical inquiries sometimes lead to commitments.