§ 3. Mr. Frank Allaunasked the Post-master-General if, in connection with his proposals for legislation, he will list all newspaper holdings in commercial television companies and all newspaper directors who are also directors of commercial television companies.
§ Mr. BevinsThe information requested in the first part of the hon. Gentleman's Question was published in paragraph 623 of the Report of the Committee on Broadcasting. The I.T.A. tell me that the position as shown there is virtually unchanged. The information in regard to Directors is very detailed and I am, therefore, publishing it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Mr. AllaunI thank the Postmaster-General for his reply. In view of the widespread anxiety about three Press proprietors owning three out of every
| Annex 1 | ||||||
| Programme Company | Directors who are also Directors of newspapers (National, Provincial and Local) | Remarks | ||||
| A.T.V | … | … | … | H. Cudlip | … | Daily Mirror Group |
| E. S. Birk | … | Daily Mirror Group | ||||
| R. P. T. Gibson | … | The Financial News Ltd. | ||||
| The Birmingham Post and Mail Ltd. | ||||||
| Westminster Press | ||||||
| S.T.V | … | … | … | R. Thomson | … | Thomson Newspapers |
| J. Coltart | … | Thomson Newspapers | ||||
| C. N. McQueen | … | Thomson Newspapers | ||||
| I. M. Stewart | … | Thomson Newspapers | ||||
| T.W.W | … | … | … | Sir William Emsley Carr | … | News of the World Organisation |
| Barrow's Organisation | ||||||
| T. R. Jones | … | Barrow's Organisation | ||||
| M. Chapman-Walker | … | News of the World Organisation | ||||
| A. G. Jeans | … | Liverpool Daily Post & Echo |
§ four newspapers read in this country and about possible further take-overs, is it not a real threat to democracy to permit these people to have any interest at all in the even more influential—
§ Sir G. Nabarro indicated dissent.
§ Mr. ManuelWhat's your line?
§ Mr. AllaunI do not know about other hon. Members, but I can hardly hear myself speak.
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. I would be grateful if hon. Members making running commentaries during Question Time would recognise what it would mean to the House as a whole if everybody behaved in that way.
§ Mr. AllaunAs I was saying when I was so rudely interrupted by the hon. Member for Kidderminster (Sir G. Nabarro), is it not a real threat to democracy if these newspaper owners are permitted to have any interest at all in television, which is the most influential of all the media? Why does the T.V. Bill ignore the Shawcross and Pilkington proposals, even about dominant control of television interests?
§ Mr. BevinsI should have thought that that was a matter which could be appropriately debated on the Second Reading of the Bill.
§ Following is the information: 11
| Programme Company | Directors who are also Directors of newspapers (National, Provincial and Local) | Remarks | ||
| Southern | … | B. H. Thomson | … | D. C. Thomson & Co. Ltd. (Scottish Newspapers) |
| W. H. Thomson | … | D. C. Thomson & Co. Ltd. (Scottish Newspapers) | ||
| D. B. Thomson | … | D. C. Thomson & Co. Ltd. (Scottish Newspapers) | ||
| R. Geddes | … | Associated Newspapers | ||
| Hon. V. H. Harmsworth | … | Associated Newspapers | ||
| Anglia | … | W. O. Copeman | … | Various East Anglian Newspapers |
| L. P. Scott | … | Manchester Guardian | ||
| North News Ltd. | ||||
| Ulster | … | O.W. Henderson | … | Belfast Newsletter Ltd. |
| Westward T.V | … | W. A. Hawkins | … | Various West Country Papers |
| Border T.V | … | J. L. Burgess | … | Cumberland Newspapers Ltd. |
| Sir John Muirhead | … | George Outram & Co.—various Scottish Newspapers | ||
| J. I. Small | … | The Tweeddale Press | ||
| Grampian T.V | … | J. M. Milne | … | John Milne, The Central Press (Aberdeen) Ltd. |
| I. M. Tennant | … | Moray and Nairn Newspapers Co. Ltd. | ||
| Times Publishing Co. (this Company has no financial interests in any T.V. Company) | ||||
| Wales (W. & N.) Ltd. | … | E. L. Thomas | … | Woodalls Newspapers Ltd. |
| Channel T.V | … | A. G. Harrison | … | Local Channel Islands Newspapers |
| G. Le Gros Peck | … | Local Channel Islands Newspapers |