§ Q8. Mr. Ian Lloydasked the Prime Minister whether he will seek powers to extend the scope of the Parliamentary Commissioner to include complaints against the impartiality of radio and television broadcasting companies, on the reference of such complaints to the Commissioner by a Member of Parliament.
§ The Prime MinisterNo, Sir. It would be inappropriate for the Commissioner to be asked to investigate complaints in a field for which Ministers are not responsible.
§ Mr. LloydWould not my right hon. Friend agree that something should be done about a situation in which the most powerful of the media enjoys what appears to be an exemption from the constraints which must be accepted by its rivals? Is he aware, for example, 1676 that had Captain Brown been libelled in a television programme, he would have had the greatest difficulty even to get a transcript of what had been said?
§ The Prime MinisterOfficial machinery for dealing with these matters has been set up. There is the Advisory Council to the B.B.C., and the Television Act, which puts certain constraints on the Independent Television Authority. I should not like to comment off the cuff on the legal position in respect of slander or on the law generally.
The question of getting transcripts is, again, not a matter for Ministerial responsibility. It must be the decision of the authorities concerned. But I should have thought that most hon. Members would think that there was an obligation on the Authority and the Corporation to provide transcripts when asked for.
§ Mr. Hugh JenkinsWhile many of us suport the view that the broadcasting authorities should provide transcripts upon reasonable request, may I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he is aware that if, in any general examination of the media, including the Press, the question of bias were to arise, the bias would be shown to be against this side of the House and heavily in favour of the Tory Party?
§ The Prime MinisterVarying opinions are held on that point.