§ 35. Dr. Winstanleyasked the Lord President of the Council if he will take steps to enable the House of Commons closed-circuit television communications to be used for displaying information and announcements of the kind normally included in the all-Party Whip and for the publication of news bulletins at times when the House is not sitting.
§ The Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons (Mr. Fred Peart)No, Sir. The Services Committee resolved last Session that the messages shown on the closed-circuit television annunciators must be confined to the proceedings of the House.
§ Dr. WinstanleyIs the right hon. Gentleman not aware that the message dislayed by these television screens for very long periods of the day amounts to no more than the date? Would it not be useful to display announcements to hon. Members during those periods when the screens are doing nothing else?
§ Mr. PeartI must take note of the Services Committee, which I chair and which is a representative body. To carry out this suggestion would mean having the staff responsible for working the annunciators on duty for many extra hours. We have costs to bear in mind as well.