HC Deb 25 April 1966 vol 727 cc336-7
14. Mr. Iremonger

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what steps are being taken to arrange for the televising of the proceedings of the House of Commons.

Mr. Prentice

None, Sir.

Mr. Iremonger

Will the Minister make sure that if he does make any further arrangements he makes them after having had proper consultation with the House itself; otherwise this very important and desirable development will be unduly prejudiced?

Mr. Prentice

The decisions on policy of this kind are for the House, and Questions on the Government's attitude towards these matters are for my right hon. Friend the Lord President of the Council, who has Questions on these points on the Order Paper. My officials would be responsible for some technical arrangements here, and if the occasion arose in the future would look into them very carefully along with the broadcasting companies and take account of the views of hon. Members.

Mr. Speaker

Order. This is difficult. There are Questions on policy to the Lord President of the Council. Questions now must be questions purely about the Minister's own responsibility.

Mr. Shinwell

In so far as this matter concerns my right hon.Friend, can we have a definite assurance—and I mean a definite assurance—that nothing will be done until this House has been fully consulted?

Mr. Prentice

On the only part of the policy which effects my Department—the more technical one of the kind of arrangements to be made—I certainly would like to have the views of hon.Members, and in the light of these my officials would consult the broadcasting people.

Mr. Kenneth Lewis

Will the Minister bear in mind that if the speeches made this weekend by the hon. Members for Poplar (Mr. Mikardo) and Bosworth (Mr. Wyatt) are to be taken into account, it looks as though they want to get on television and the only way they can do so is for the House to be televised. Would the right hon. Gentleman, therefore, bear that in mind?

Mr. English

Will the Minister give an assurance that his Department was in no way responsible for the authorisation of colour filming and Press photography——

Mr. Speaker

Order. There are Questions on the Order Paper on this matter.