HC Deb 13 July 1966 vol 731 cc1435-7
17. Mr. Marten

asked the Postmaster-General if he will direct the British Broadcasting Corporation under the provisions of the Licence and Agreement to refrain from transmitting films made by them, the scripts of which they are unwilling to make available to those persons wishing to see them.

Mr. Edward Short

No, Sir. The broadcasting authorities are responsible for the content of the programmes they broadcast.

Mr. Marten

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that for some months I have been trying to get the B.B.C. to place in the Library of the House a copy of the script of the film called "The War Game" which is of interest to many hon. Members on both sides of the House? Would he kindly use his good offices to ensure that the B.B.C. places a copy of the script in the Library?

Mr. Short

I have inquired into this matter. The B.B.C. tells me that the script alone is meaningless. Normally it would make scripts available to hon. Members, but it tells me that in this case the script alone is not really worth having. There are, of course, a number of difficulties—legal difficulties among others—about issuing scripts to anybody who asks for them. But in fairness to the B.B.C. I should say that it has made the film available. It is now on show in London, and anybody can see it.

Mr. Dickens

Would my right hon. Friend reconsider an early decision to show this film nationally on television at a peak viewing hour?

Mr. Short

That is not a matter for me. The B.B.C. is master in its own house. Although it made the film, it decided not to show it. But, as I say, it is on show in the cinema now, and anybody can see it.

Mr. Hogg

May I refer to the issues raised by the Question? Does not the Postmaster-General appreciate that there may be people who are wronged by the terms of a script issued by the broadcasting authorities, either the one or the other? Therefore, is it not right that they should have a legal right to look at the script if it refers to them in possibly defamatory terms?

Mr. Short

That raises a different aspect of the matter which should be put to, perhaps, the Attorney-General, but not to me. All that I am saying is that the B.B.C. has difficulties in this matter, but it has informed me—and I have made careful inquiries about this; I anticipated that this was the point of the Question —that it feels that the script alone is not worth issuing.

Mr. Hogg

Is not the right hon. Gentleman evading his Departmental responsibility? Surely it is his business to acquire legal advice through his legal advisers. It is not the business of hon. Members to put down Questions to Ministers without executive responsibility for the Department which is responsible for issuing directions.

Mr. Short

The hon. and learned Gentleman is quite wrong. I have no complaint, but if any member of the public feels that he has a complaint about the contents of this script it is open to him to take what legal action he can.