HC Deb 14 February 1963 vol 671 cc1479-81
Q1 Mr. Ellis Smith

asked the Prime Minister (1) if he will arrange for consultations so that arrangements can be made for televising the proceedings of the House of Commons by the preparation of films daily, or for an experiment to be made for a limited period of televising Question Time so that it can be shown on film in the evening when people are at home;

(2) if he will consult the British Broadcasting Corporation and the Independent Television Authority, so that arrangements can be made for direct sound broadcasts of the proceedings of the House of Commons during Question Time and between half-past six and half-past eight o'clock.

The Prime Minister (Mr. Harold Macmillan)

No, Sir. If I was aware of any general desire in the House for arrangements of the kind suggested, I would certainly take it into account. I do not think that it exists at present.

Sir T. Moore

Will my right hon. Friend again bear in mind that not all of us are so photogenic as himself and that many of us are not so publicity minded as are others? Will he, therefore, turn a sour frown on this preposterous proposal?

Mr. Gresham Cooke

May I—

Mr. Speaker

Order. I had not called anyone, because I was waiting to see if the Prime Minister intended to reply to that supplementary question.

Mr. Wilkins

Would the Prime Minister agree that while a decision as to whether or not it would be wise to televise or broadcast by sound radio the proceedings of the House would rest essentially on a balance of the advantages over the disadvantages—and I recognise the latter, of course—to do so would stimulate attendance in the House and interest outside and give our constituents an opportunity to see just how frustrated their hon. Members may become when they have sat in the House for two days endeavouring to take part in a debate on a matter of great public interest and have failed to be called?

The Prime Minister

I appreciate the view of my hon. Friend the Member for Ayr (Sir T. Moore) and I also understand that expressed by the hon. Member for Bristol, South (Mr. Wilkins). However, it is really a matter for the House itself. We took soundings as generally as we could in 1959 and again in 1960 and I am not aware of any real change of opinion among hon. Members as a whole.

Mr. Gresham Cooke

Will my right hon. Friend bear in mind that there has been a programme on sound radio for very many years, at 10.45 each night, which has a very good audience? Might there not be a case for having a similiar, short, edited programme at about the same time on television? Would not this increase the prestige of Parliament and public interest in Parliament?

The Prime Minister

I think there is nothing to prevent there being a television programme of that kind, but that is rather different from these proposals. I am not an expert, but I should have thought that it would be rather difficult to make Question Time very good from a broadcasting point of view unless the public were given an Order Paper, otherwise the proceedings would be difficult to follow.

Mr. Callaghan

Whatever the photogenic qualities of the hon. Member for Ayr (Sir T. Moore), does not the Prime Minister agree that the sound of his melifluous tones over the sound radio might well gain him a few votes? He has a very attractive voice. On the general question, however, can we really decide this by a chorus of "Hears, hears" on either side when this matter is raised? Might it not be of advantage to the House if, at some time, we had a half-day debate on the matter so that we could thrash out the pros and cons?

The Prime Minister

I should be quite ready to do that. We took fairly general soundings on the last occasion, but if the hon. Member was to approach the usual channels about his desire to discuss the matter, perhaps that would be one method. I think I am right in saying that I see no change in the general view which would justify the Government, on their own, taking such an initiative.