HC Deb 12 December 1963 vol 686 cc561-3
Q2. Mr. Donnelly

asked the Prime Minister whether he will move to appoint a Select Committee to consider the implications of televising some of the proceedings of the House of Commons and the conducting of a closed circuit experiment.

The Prime Minister

I would refer the hon. Member to the replies which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Stockport, North (Sir N. Hulbert) on 19th November and 5th December.

Mr. Donnelly

They were not very good answers. Is the Prime Minister aware that this Parliament is almost the last among the leading Parliaments of the Western world which takes no note whatever of these mass media? How long does he think this can go on and this House retain a hold on the imagination of the nation?

The Prime Minister

The view I have taken is that it is a matter largely for the House, as I have said before. But I think that the House ought to decide on the principle before beginning to experiment with the practice.

Sir T. Moore

Does by right hon. Friend appreciate—I am sure that he does—that if Parliamentary proceedings were televised it might well induce some hon. Members to seek to catch Mr. Speaker's eye for publicity purposes rather than to elucidate information from Ministers? Does not he think that this would tend to diminish the respect in which Parliament is still held by the public?

The Prime Minister

I have not been here long and I must be careful, but there are some aspects of Parliamentary life which I should not mind being on television.

Mr. Grimond

As the Prime Minister is rightly anxious to have the opinion of the House on this matter, and as there are difficulties, particularly about Committees and how broadcasts would be edited, would he consider allowing us to have a debate on the matter?

The Prime Minister

I think that would be a matter for the usual channels.

Mr. Donnelly

Is the Prime Minister aware that, with due respect to my right hon. Friend the Leader of the Opposition, the usual channels on my side are somewhat conservative? Would he consider on occasion establishing a new channel?

The Prime Minister

I do not think I can give the hon. Member much hope, because a lot more people will be going Conservative in future.