HC Deb 30 July 1963 vol 682 cc227-9
Q1. Mr. Ellis Smith

asked the Prime Minister whether he will now seek the views of the House on the advisability of televising daily a short, edited programme of proceedings of the House of Commons, of a similar nature and at a similar time to the present radio programme.

The Prime Minister (Mr. Harold Macmillan)

I know the hon. Gentleman's interest in all this. It is essentially a matter for the House of Commons and many different views have been expressed. Of course, a television programme like the radio programme would not amount to televising the proceedings of Parliament.

Mr. Ellis Smith

Is it a fact that at a private luncheon the Prime Minister as good as said that he was in favour of this and that Mr. Speaker was making arrangements for it to be carried through? If so, can he make a statement about it?

The Prime Minister

No, Sir. I am not prepared to make any statement about what I may have said at a private luncheon. I regard this as a House of Commons matter. I think that opinions in the House of Commons may be changing a little. I have heard all sorts of opinions expressed. Perhaps next Session it might be worth trying again, through the usual channels, to get the general view of the House. But I do not regard it as a Government matter; I regard it as a House of Commons matter.

Sir C. Osborne

Whatever may be said at a private meeting, will my right hon. Friend reject this monstrous proposal, especially in view of the question which appears in the last two lines of the next Question on the Order Paper about the difficulty of giving fair representation of hon. Members?

The Prime Minister

I have said that I regard this as a matter for the House of Commons and not for the Government.

Mr. H. Wilson

Is the Prime Minister aware that we agree with him that it certainly is a House of Commons matter and that if there are to be talks, we shall be glad to take part in them? If the Prime Minister thinks that this is a matter—we are quite prepared to go into it—which can be usefully pursued in the last Session of a highly moribund Parliament—[Hon. Members: "Oh."]—we have only just over a year to go under the statute law of the country, however much hon. Members opposite might want it extended—why does he think it is already too late in this Parliament to consider the question of Members' pay?

The Prime Minister

This is an entirely different matter, which is one for the House of Commons. The last matter mentioned is one on which the Government alone have the responsibility for making any financial proposals to the House.

Mr. Blackburn

If the right hon. Gentleman gives further consideration to this problem, will he remember that this is a place of work and not a place of entertainment?

The Prime Minister

I am happy to say that I have found over a number of years that one can sometimes have both.

Mr. Ellis Smith

Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that honest men fear nothing, and that those who do work here do not fear television?