§ Mr. DanceMr. Speaker, I seek leave to introduce a Petition which represents the views of 365,355 members of the British public who are deeply concerned about the low standards of certain broadcasts and, in particular, television programmes, which are being screened at the present moment. I beg you, Mr. Speaker, to instruct the Clerk of the House to read this Petition to the House.
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The CLERK (Sir BARNETT COCKS) read the Petition to the House as follows:
To: The Honourable the Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in Parliament assembled:
The humble Petition of residents of Bromsgrove and other places showeth, that on the walls of Broadcasting House is carved—
This temple of the Arts and Muses is dedicated to Almighty God by the first Governors of Broadcasting. It is their prayer that all things hostile to peace and purity be banished from this House, and that the people inclining their ear to whatsoever things are beautiful and honest and of good report may tread the paths of wisdom and righteousness.
That the men and women of Britain believe in a Christian way of life; Deplore present day attempts to belittle and destroy it, and in particular object to the propaganda of disbelief, doubt and dirt that the B.B.C. pours into millions of homes through the television screen; And that crime, violence, illegitimacy and venereal disease are steadily increasing, yet the B.B.C. employs people whose ideas and advice pander to the lowest in human nature, accompanying this with a stream of suggestive and erotic plays which present
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promiscuity, infidelity and drinking as normal and inevitable.
Wherefore your Petitioners pray that the B.B.C. be asked to make a radical change of policy and produce programmes which build character instead of destroying it, which encourage and sustain faith in God and bring Him back to the heart of the British family and national life.
And your Petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray etc.
Petition to lie upon the Table.