§ 37. Mr. Bellengerasked the Lord President of the Council by what authority the proceedings of this House were televised on the opening day of this Parliament; and whether he will make a statement.
§ 39. Mr. Rowlandasked the Lord President of the Council what consultations were held before permission was given for television cameras to be admitted to the Chamber of the House of Commons.
§ Mr. BowdenI would refer to the Answer which I gave to the Question by my hon. Friend the Member for West Ham, North (Mr. Arthur Lewis) on Tuesday, 26th April.
§ Mr. BellengerCould my right hon. Friend say whether any permission was given for the introduction of ciné cameras into the Chamber, and by whom it was given, if it was given? Has his attention been called to a circular to all hon. Members this morning by a commercial undertaking offering pictures taken in the House, presumably by ciné cameras for which I understand no authority has been given by the House?
§ Mr. BowdenI answered Questions in some detail on Monday of this week on the subject of ciné cameras at the State Opening of Parliament.
§ Mr. RowlandDoes my right hon. Friend accept that the only consultations acceptable to the House are consultations with the House? May I ask him also to give an assurance that the free vote which he has already promised on the principle of televising the House should be followed by further votes or discussion on the methods by which the House is televised; in other words, that the ground rules are as important as the principle in the matter?
§ Mr. BowdenThe Select Committee on Broadcasting the Proceedings of the House of Commons has been discussing the question for some time, but its remit does not cover anything other than televising the House. I have been considering whether we ought not to consider the question of ciné cameras in the Chamber. When we receive a Report from the Select Committee, I hope that the House will discuss it and come to a decision.
§ Sir C. OsborneWill the right hon. Gentleman see that it never happens again?
§ Mr. BowdenI am not absolutely sure to what the hon. Gentleman is referring.
§ Sir C. Osborne rose—
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. Mr. William Hamilton, to ask Question No. 38.
§ 40. Sir Richard Glynasked the Lord President of the Council by what authority permission was given to a commercial film company to make a film of part of the proceedings in the Chamber of the House of Commons on Thursday, 21st April.
§ 41. Mr. Englishasked the Lord President of the Council by what authority the decision of the House of Commons Services Committee of 7th March upon the televising of the House of Commons proceedings at the State opening of Parliament was varied; and, in particular, by what authority colour filming and Press photography were permitted.
§ Mr. BowdenI would refer to the Answer which I gave to the Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Meriden (Mr. Rowland) on Monday, 25th April.
§ Sir Richard GlynWould the right hon. Gentleman agree that the Select Committee on House of Commons (Services) under his chairmanship authorised the use of television cameras, or recommended the use of them, but made no such recommendation with regard to colour film and much brighter lights which were involved? Would he further agree that it was never authorised by Mr. Speaker or by a competent authority? Will the right hon. Gentleman admit that in his Ministerial capacity he had an office and staff in the House of Commons throughout the time when the House was not sitting? Why did not he intervene to stop the making of this ultra vires film?
§ Mr. BowdenA lot of admissions are required. I will admit that the House of Commons (Services) Committee recommended to Mr. Speaker that television cameras should be brought into this Chamber. I will further admit that the House of Commons (Services) Committee did not discuss the question of ciné cameras in the Chamber. I had no office in the House of Commons during the dissolution of Parliament. I have no such entitlement. I was not Leader of the House at the time, but was Lord President of the Council, and had no responsibility whatever for the televising of the House.
§ Mr. EnglishWill my right hon. Friend, who has referred to the Answer which he 700 gave on Monday, withdraw the admission which he made at the bottom of column 360 that the Clerk of the House, for example, was one of the persons concerned in authorising whatever did happen?
§ Mr. BowdenI think that I had better stick to "the House of Commons authorities".
§ 42. Mr. Englishasked the Lord President of the Council what was the lighting level, in foot-candles, in the Chamber at 11.30 a.m. on 21st April, 1966; what it is normally; and what lighting is needed for television only.
§ Mr. BowdenAt that time, the lighting level in the Chamber was 80-100 foot-candles. Normally it is about 10 foot-candles; television needs about 40 foot-candles.