§ 13. Mr. Geoffrey Finsbergasked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications when he intends to publish the Television Advisory Committee's report to him; and if lie will make a statement.
§ 14. Mr. Goldingasked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications whether he has yet received the report on the technical future of broadcasting.
§ Sir J. EdenThe report of the Television Advisory Committee is being published today. Copies will be available in the Vote Office this afternoon. I am extremely grateful to Sir Robert Cockburn and his colleagues for the work they have done. Their main conclusions are that the first priority is to complete as soon as possible after 1980 the coverage of the UHF 625-line television service, and that new technical developments are unlikely to have a significant impact on broadcasting during the present decade.
§ Mr. FinsbergI thank my right hon. Friend for giving the House the opportunity of reading over Christmas this fascinating document. Will the broad conclusions which he announced as being contained in the report inhibit the industry from pressing on with new and revolutionary ideas?
§ Sir J. EdenI am sure that they need not inhibit anyone from pressing forward with new developments. The report will help to put into technological perspective the nature of some of these advancing techniques.
§ Mr. GoldingIs the Minister aware that if there are no technical developments which will have an impact within the next decade there is no reason why there should not now be a committee of inquiry into broadcasting after 1976? Is the Minister further aware that the Select Committee on Nationalised Industries recommended an inquiry into the unified transmission of broadcasting services, and does he have that recommendation under consideration?
§ Sir J. EdenThe question of an inquiry was not before the Television Advisory Committee.
§ Mr. Hugh JenkinsThe Minister will recall that in answer to a recent question which I put to him on this subject he said that he was waiting for this report to decide whether he would have a full-scale inquiry. Now that he has the report, will he have the full-scale inquiry as soon as possible?
§ Sir J. EdenI am now giving close attention to the observations which are contained in the report of the Television Advisory Committee. The Government will then make their conclusions about the wisdom or otherwise of having an inquiry.
§ Mr. Gregor MackenzieBut now that the Minister has indicated that there is nothing to prevent a broadly-based inquiry, and bearing in mind that we are now in December 1972, will he set up such an inquiry as quickly as possible?
§ Sir J. EdenI have already answered a question relating to whether there should be an inquiry and, if so, in what form, but, as the hon. Gentleman knows, the charter and the Acts do not expire before 1976.