HC Deb 23 July 1970 vol 804 c754
Q6. Mr. D. J. Stewart

asked the Prime Minister if he will now introduce legislation to govern the allocation of broadcasting time for party political purposes.

The Prime Minister

No, Sir.

Mr. Stewart

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware of the dissatisfaction and resentment felt in Scotland by all fair-minded people in all parts that a party such as the Scottish Nationalist Party, putting up 65 candidates in the 71 constituencies, should be confined to five minutes each of television and radio time? Is he aware that this has been condemned by the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland? Is this gerrymandering to continue as a permanent feature?

The Prime Minister

The arrangements for broadcasting time for the parties have been carried on in the same way for many years. What is quite plain from all the allocation of time is that the minority parties receive a disproportionate amount of time on television and the air considering the vote they poll or their representation in this House.