HC Deb 28 June 1972 vol 839 cc1432-4
32. Mr. Stratton Mills

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications if he will make a statement on the appointment of a new chairman for the British Broadcasting Corporation.

26. Mr. Cordle

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications whether he will now announce the name of the new chairman of the Governors of the British Broadcasting Corporation.

33. Mr. Fowler

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications whether he is now in a position to announce the name of the next chairman of the British Broadcasting Corporation Governors.

Sir J. Eden

I have nothing to add to my predecessor's reply on 9th February to my hon. Friend the Member for Belfast, North (Mr. Stratton Mills)—[Vol. 830, c. 1319.]

Mr. Mills

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the new chairman, when when appointed—it is hoped the announcement will be fairly soon—has a very important job to do in restoring public confidence in the BBC, and when making this appointment could my right hon. Friend make it perfectly clear that the chairman's role is, as it is supposed to have been in the past, to act as the protector of the public instead of as an apologist for interests inside the BBC?

Sir J. Eden

The aim will certainly be to appoint the most suitable candidate available.

Dr. Miller

When the new chairman of the British Broadcasting Corporation is announced will the Minister impress upon him the necessity for him to permit the regions to play their full part in broadcasting in respect of both the policy to be adopted by the corporation and the policy for the programmes which are sent out, and which ought to be national programmes sent out from regional areas? Will the Minister further ensure that the chairman is made to know that the British Broadcasting Corporation is not the London broadcasting corporation, but is for the whole of the United Kingdom?

Sir J. Eden

I have noted the hon. Gentleman's points.

Mr. Selwyn Gummer

Will my right hon. Friend agree that the British Broadcasting Corporation is in fact the people's broadcasting corporation and not the private domain of those who work for it, and will he ensure that the chairman stands up for the people's rights and not merely for the rights of those who work within the authority?

Sir J. Eden

I take note of my hon. Friend's suggestion.

Mr. J. T. Price

In case this matter be left in an untidy condition, since the dialogue has now started at Question Time, may I ask what possesses the Minister to sit there and allow smears of this kind to be put on the Order Paper? What evidence is there, for example, to enable the hon. Member to say "restore the confidence of the British public in the BBC"? That is to suggest that the British public have no confidence in the BBC, and I do not think that is true. Does the right hon. Gentleman realise that while I and some of my hon. Friends may have individual criticisms of certain policies of the British Broadcasting Corporation, the BBC has world confidence, apart from British confidence, and is superior to any other broadcasting corporation in the world?

Sir J. Eden

It is helpful to have the views of all members of the public, including those of the hon. Gentleman.

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