HC Deb 17 November 1971 vol 826 cc400-1
10. Mr. St. John-Stevas

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications whether he will make a statement on Government policy in relation to censoring of broadcasts.

Mr. Chataway

The policy of this Government as it has been of previous Governments is that each of the two broadcasting authorities is, as a trustee for the public interest in broadcasting, wholly and solely responsible for the programme content of its services.

Mr. St. John-Stevas

While fully—

Mr. Speaker

Order. I am glad to note that the hon. Gentleman rises for a supplementary question if not for the Question itself.

Mr. St. John-Stevas

I am grateful to you Mr. Speaker for your help. I fully support my right hon. Friend in setting his face against a system of censorship, which would be entirely contrary to this country's traditions, but will he use his influence which, even though he be only a corporation sole, is considerable, to ensure that television and wireless coverage of events in Northern Ireland are objective and, if there is any doubt, to ensure that the benefit of it is given to the forces of the Crown, not to Her Majesty's enemies?

Mr. Chataway

As my hon. Friend knows, my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary has undertaken to bring to the notice of the chairmen of the two broadcasting authorities the extent of parliamentary concern about reporting in Ulster. There should be no doubt, however, that the broadcasting organisations have an extremely difficult task in this respect. They have, on the one hand, to recognise that the presence of cameras may sometimes influence events and that they are, therefore, in a sense, participants as well as reporters, while, on the other hand, they have to try to give fair coverage.

Mr. Whitehead

I welcome the important statements on this matter which the Minister has just made, but will he ask the Independent Television Authority to inquire into the circumstances in which a "World in Action" programme on events in the Republic of Ireland was banned without being seen by the Authority, against, as I understand it, the views of the I.T.A. officials who saw the programme in its early stages in Manchester?

Mr. Chataway

No, Sir, I will not. The I.T.A. has the responsibility. It is the trustee for the public. It is for the Authority to make judgments. I do not believe that broadcasters serve even their own best interests if they seem to challenge the Authority's exercise of that power and its right to exercise it.