HC Deb 20 October 1971 vol 823 cc706-7
16. Mr. Biggs-Davison

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications what further consideration he has given to measures and machinery to secure compliance by the British Broadcasting Corporation with the terms of the Licence and Agreement, and the provision, whether by a Broadcasting Council or otherwise, of means of vindication and redress for television and radio performers and producers and for the public.

Mr. Chataway

None, Sir. I do not accept it to be the general opinion that there is a failure by the B.B.C. to comply with the Licence and Agreement. As to the second part of the Question, I believe that the best safeguard for the public and for broadcasters is a B.B.C. governing body of high quality charged with a clear and undiluted responsibility for the conduct of the Corporation's affairs.

Mr. Biggs-Davison

Does my right hon. Friend ever listen to or watch B.B.C. programmes? Is he not aware that comment is frequently made on the news by the staff of the B.B.C. which is contrary to the Licence and Agreement? What is being done about it? Is it not clear that the governors are not governing?

Mr. Chataway

There is no prohibition in the Licence and Agreement upon news comment by those appearing on television or speaking on radio. I consider that our system is right in placing a square responsibility upon the governors for the performance of the Corporation.

Mr. Hugh Jenkins

Will the right hon. Gentleman pursue this a little further? The point raised by his hon. Friend the Member for Chigwell (Mr. Biggs-Davison) on the question of the Licence and Agreement is that the B.B.C. itself is prohibited from expressing opinions. At what point does an employee of the B.B.C. cease to be the B.B.C.? Is it not the case in law that all employees of an organisation are responsible to their employers, and that if they express opinions they are the opinions of their employers?

Mr. Chataway

Nothing in the Licence and Agreement prohibits comment from those who are either employed by the B.B.C. or are engaged by the B.B.C. on contract. There is, however, a clear obligation upon the Corporation to achieve impartiality and balance.

18. Mr. Hugh Jenkins

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications whether he will seek to change the Licence and Agreement with the British Broadcasting Corporation so that the Corporation is required to insist upon payment for advertising material broadcast.

Mr. Chataway

No, Sir.

Mr. Jenkins

Will the right hon. Gentleman reconsider this matter? Is it not the case that the amount of free advertising on the B.B.C. is increasing and that this constitutes an intolerable favouritism, with unfair competition, and even opens up the possibility of the danger of corruption? Will he conduct an examination into this question? There have been many instances of free advertising. The matter should be examined to see whether something is going on which should not be allowed to go on.

Mr. Chataway

There is always a difficult line for the B.B.C. to draw. At the one extreme it would be ridiculous to prohibit the mention of any firms but, at the other, the B.B.C. must always be careful not to provide undue free advertising. This is a difficult line, and I think that it is true to say that it is overstepped from time to time. It is a matter about which the hon. Gentleman is right to complain on occasion to the Governors.