HC Deb 09 February 1972 vol 830 cc1327-8
28. Mr. Evelyn King

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications on how many occasions in the last six months, during his period of office, he has drawn the attention of the British Broadcasting Corporation to a breach by it of the direction, given under section 13(4) of the Licence and Agreement, to refrain from expressing its own opinions on public affairs and matters of public policy.

Mr. Chataway

None, Sir.

Mr. King

Is my right hon. Friend aware, in the Irish context, that first our noble Friend the Secretary of State for Defence and then our right hon. Friend the Home Secretary both expressed public disapproval of what the B.B.C. was doing and that Lord Hill ignored the carefully-weighed and pondered advice of two Ministers responsible for troops and for the lives of their troops? As the Minister responsible for broadcasting, will my right hon. Friend comment on that?

Mr. Chataway

I am aware, of course, that both my noble Friend and my right hon. Friend put squarely to the B.B.C. what they believe to be the national interest. However, both made it clear at the same time that there was to be no censorship and that it was for the governors of the corporation to make up their own mind.

Mr. Kaufman

Is the Minister aware that many hon. Members on both sides would totally deplore interference with the B.B.C.s broadcasting programmes, however much we may disagree with them, which do not express an editorial opinion, as the B.B.C. did not in this case, to enable people of differing and well-known opinions to inform the public of their views? In order that this admirable freedom which the B.B.C. exercises, sometimes to our disapproval, continues, will the right hon. Gentleman ensure that the next chairman of the B.B.C. will be of a similar independence and will not be a grey, bureaucratic puppet?

Mr. Chataway

This Government have no intention of exercising censorship over the B.B.C., but it must be open to Ministers and to anybody else to represent strongly to the B.B.C. any conviction they may have that programming decisions of the B.B.C. are wrong.

Mr. Molloy

Is the Minister aware that his last answer will give great satisfaction to hon. Members on both sides and that the real damage to the national interest would have been to have any chairman or director-general of the B.B.C. genuflecting to any Minister, of whatever party?

Mr. Chataway

But if that is meant to imply that the B.B.C. should never take advice or take note of representations made by the Government, I could not agree with the hon. Gentleman.