HC Deb 11 July 1963 vol 680 cc1416-7
Q10. Mr. W. R. Williams

asked the Prime Minister whether he will arrange that, in future, announcements of appointments by Her Majesty's Government to posts of national importance shall be made orally and not by Written Answers.

The Prime Minister

I do not wish to propose any change in the long-standing arrangements for announcements of this kind.

Mr. Williams

Is the Prime Minister aware that the reason which prompted me to put this Question on the Order Paper was the way in which the recent announcement was made of the appointment of Baron Hill of Luton as Chairman of the Independent Television Authority? Is the Prime Minister aware of the extreme dissatisfaction felt, on both sides of the House, at the manner in which the announcement was made? [HON. MEMBERS:"Oh."] May I deal with the basis of that? Is the Prime Minister aware that the Postmaster-General was repeatedly asked by hon. Members to disclose to the House the name of the person whom he proposed to make the Chairman of the Independent Television Authority?

He failed to do so even after the eleventh hour—[HON. MEMBERS:"Question."] Mr. Speaker will know when he has to pull me up. Is the Prime Minister aware that up to even the eleventh hour the Postmaster-General refused to do so, and that the first official information which hon. Members had was when the announcement appeared on the tape? Is the Prime Minister, as a good House of Commons man, satisfied with the way in which the announcement was made? Does he not think it a mean and shabby way of treating this House?

The Prime Minister

The announcement was made by answer to a Question which was printed in HANSARD. I saw no great objection made to the announcement of Lord Robens' appointment at the Coal Board, and that was made at a Press conference.

Mr. H. Wilson

Is it not a fact that, on this occasion, late on Thursday night questions were being put to the Postmaster-General, who was very sensitive about admitting whom he intended to appoint, and then, as soon as the Bill had gone through the House—in fact the next day—this Question was put on the Order Paper, showing that the whole thing had been planned all along? Is it not a fact that there is very great concern that the noble Lord, whom the right hon. Gentleman did not think good enough even for his Cabinet a year ago, has been appointed to this very important position?

The Prime Minister

All I can say is that it shows the very broad way in which I have tried to make all these appointments. I did not hear all these objections when Lord Robens was chosen for the Coal Board.

Mr. Wilson

Was it not felt widely on both sides of the House, and has it not been proved since, that Lord Robens was the best man for the job? [An. HON. MEMBER:"So is Lord Hill."] The Prime Minister showed his lack of confidence in the noble Lord a year ago. In this case, in which I.T.A. is charged by the House with very important and onerous duties of censorship on questions where political bias may be involved, is it not wrong that the noble Lord has been appointed?

The Prime Minister

The last two years have shown the wide satisfaction with which Lord Robens'appointment has been regarded. So I believe in the next two years the same will be thought about this appointment.