HC Deb 15 March 1971 vol 813 cc897-9
16. Mr. Evelyn King

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications how many complaints relating to breaches of the Licence and Agreement, in respect of the British Broadcasting Corporation's programmes, have been received by his Department in the last 12 months.

Mr. Chataway

We have had about 15 complaints of alleged breaches.

Mr. King

Is it not a fact that the B.B.C. is forbidden to express any opinion on current affairs, although through its mouthpieces it blithely does so almost every day? Will my right hon. Friend, if he thinks that the rule is wrong, change it, or, if he does not think so, enforce the law? If it be his responsibility—and it must be his alone —is it not logical that people should write to him and not to the B.B.C., which is unlikely to do anything whatever about it?

Mr. Chataway

If there were, as a matter of fact, to be a clear breach of the Licence and Agreement, it would be my responsibility as Minister to act in the matter. But, equally, I must not interpret my responsibilities in such a way as to involve myself in day-to-day matters of programme content. I think that the way in which my hon. Friend is inviting me to interpret these regulations is substantially different from the way in which they have always been interpreted up to now.

Mr. Kaufman

Will the right hon. Gentleman disregard what his hon. Friend the Member for Dorset, South (Mr. Evelyn King) puts to him? Although the B.B.C. gives cause for complaint on both sides of the House, and will, no doubt, continue to do so, does he not agree that it is far better that it should continue, as an independent body, to give all political parties cause for complaint than that a Minister of Posts and Telecommunications, of whatever party, should set himself up as a censor in these matters?

Mr. Chataway

I agree that it is for governors of the B.B.C. to take responsibility for ensuring impartiality and observance in other ways of the obligations placed upon it, but I certainly shall not disregard my hon. Friend's remarks.

23. Mr. George Cunningham

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications what steps he proposes to take to preserve the political impartiality of the British Broadcasting Corporation in accordance with their legal obligations in view of the decision of the majority party on Islington Borough Council to continue nominating only Conservatives to attend broadcasting courses organised by Radio London.

Mr. Chataway

The B.B.C. is alone responsible for the management of its day-to-day affairs, and I do not intervene.

Mr. Cunningham

Does the Minister realise that the B.B.C. has been severely embarrassed by this persistent behaviour on the part of the Conservative leadership of the Islington Borough Council? Will the Minister make some inquiries so that he can back the Corporation in resisting the use of this medium for political purposes?

Mr. Chataway

The method of making selections to attend courses of this kind run by the B.B.C. must be a matter for the Corporation.

Mr. Speaker

Mr. Ian Lloyd—Question No. 27.

Mr. David James

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. Did you call Question No. 22? I see the hon. Member for West Ham, North (Mr. Arthur Lewis) in his seat.

Mr. Speaker

Question No. 22 was answered with No. 5.