HC Deb 30 June 1965 vol 715 cc599-600
14. Mr. Peter Mills

asked the Postmaster-General if he will take steps to set up a viewers' council for the British Broadcasting Corporation, on the same lines as the General Advisory Council of the Independent Television Authority.

Mr. Benn

The B.B.C. have had a General Advisory Council for very many years.

Mr. Mills

Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that many of us are thoroughly fed up with some of the programmes that the B.B.C. is producing? Even if it has the General Advisory Council, that Council is not very effective. Surely what is wanted is a strong Council which the B.B.C. will listen to.

Mr. Benn

I know that the hon. Gentleman is a member of the I.T.A. General Advisory Council and, therefore, his experience of the work of these Councils is personal. I have put it to both the B.B.C. and the I.T.A. since I have been in office that possibly the General Advisory Councils, might be used as a court of appeal if people were not satisfied with the views of the Governors themselves, but I must tell the hon. Gentleman that not only did the B.B.C. reject that idea; so did the I.T.A.

Mr. Evelyn King

Is it not a straightforward fact that the repute of the B.B.C., once the envy of Europe, has now reached as low a level as ever known in our lifetime? Are not devices such as councils suggested because we have a service of which we are ashamed?

Mr. Benn

I am afraid that, on this as on many matters, there are differences of opinion. A very large body of opinion in this country and throughout the world envies the standards achieved and maintained by the B.B.C.

Mr. Freeson

Is my right hon. Friend aware that many people here and outside are far more concerned about the wholesale assault that seems to be being built up by the Tory Central Office and the leaders of the Conservative Party to influence the control and management of B.B.C. programmes on radio and television in the direction of Tory propaganda?

Mr. Benn

Whatever the truth of that comment may be, there obviously would be very great danger for everyone if political interference of any kind were to take over the control of broadcasting by the B.B.C. and the I.T.A.