HC Deb 01 March 1972 vol 832 cc396-7
25. Mr. Whitehead

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications when he expects to announce plans for an inquiry into broadcasting.

Mr. Chataway

I have nothing to add to the replies I gave on 19th January in answer to the right hon. Member for Orkney and Shetland (Mr. Grimond) and my right hon. Friend the Member for Ashford (Mr. Deedes).—[Vol. 829, c. 480–1.]

Mr. Whitehead

As so many things are now happening in the whole of broadcasting, over and above the Bill the tattered remnants of which the Minister must still have some hope of dragging through the Committee, is it not absolutely scandalous that these are still continuing without the faintest indication of when we are to have a full and informed inquiry into the whole of broadcasting?

Mr. Chataway

What would have been scandalous would have been if we had refused to take the action that we promised at the General Election of introducing competition into radio, of putting right the finances of the B.B.C. and the I.T.A. and of taking action to derestrict hours when it would have been sensible to do so, all because a review was in preparation for 1976.

Mr. Richard

This matter has been raised time and again with the Minister since he assumed office. Why on earth has he not recognised that it is high time he appointed this inquiry? It is time that he appointed it, that it got on with its work, that it reported and that we considered its report. Is he aware that the longer he leaves it the worse the position gets?

Mr. Chataway

The matter is raised so often by the hon. and learned Gentleman because every time we take the initiative on something over which he and his hon. Friends cannot make up their minds, such as whether there should be competition in radio, they say that it should be put off and a committee of inquiry set up. That is not the course that we propose to take.