British Broadcasting Corporation (Licence and Agreement)

HC Deb 21 July 1971 vol 821 cc1424-5

4. Mr. Hugh Jenkins

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications what is his policy with regard to the exercise of his powers under paragraph 13 of the British Broadcasting Corporation Licence and Agreement.

Mr. Chataway

Clause 13 has five different provisions. I use my powers under 13(1) and 13(5) as seems desirable. I would use my powers under 13(3) if my departmental responsibilities so required. My power under 13(4) is a reserve power and I would not use it to intervene in a matter of programme content.

Mr. Jenkins

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that most hon. Members would agree with his decision that he would not normally interfere with programme content? Will he, also, recognise that many of us would view with some reserve the idea of the establishment of a broadcasting council of any sort, taking the view that the analogy with the Press Council is misplaced because we have here a publicly-appointed body? Would he further agree that if a publicly-appointed body is falling down on its job, something needs to be done? Will he look again at the whole structure of the B.B.C. and see whether steps can be taken—steps which I shall be pleased to suggest when I have more time—for ensuring that the governors in future do their job properly and fully and prevent any more things like "Yesterday's Men"?

Mr. Chataway

I do not believe that the B.B.C. governors are falling down on their job, but I agree with the hon. Gentleman that the analogy between broadcasting and the Press and the parallel of a broadcasting council along the lines of the Press Council cannot be very exact.

Mr. Evelyn King

Would my right hon. Friend agree that the implementation of 13(4) is not a matter of policy but that there is an absolute legal obligation on the B.B.C. to refrain from expressing its own opinion? Is he aware that in many people's opinion, that obligation has not been kept with sufficient strictness? Would he, further, accept that there is a legal obligation upon himself—an obligation, not policy—to see that this is adhered to and that the implementation of this may one day fall to him?

Mr. Chataway

As I have said to my hon. Friend on a previous occasion, if it were clear beyond doubt that the B.B.C. was infringing its Charter, clearly it would be my responsibility to intervene. It would not be right for me to intervene, however, in a matter of programme content where it was merely a question of opinion as to whether impartiality was being observed.