§ 26. Mr. Evelyn Kingasked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications what recent use he has made of his powers under clause 13 of the British Broadcasting Corporation Licence and Agreement.
§ Sir J. EdenNone. The directions requiring the BBC to refrain from broadcasting its own opinions on matters of Public policy, and programmes using subliminal techniques, remain in force.
§ Mr. KingThat answer is because my right hon. Friend, like his predecessors, quite rightly, assumes that the British Broadcasting Corporation is responsible for what it broadcasts; but on the rare occasions on which complaints are made that it acts irresponsibly, what cure is there? Can my right hon. Friend tell us what duties in such circumstances under the Licence and Agreement devolve upon him?
§ Sir J. EdenIt is the long-standing practice for the Government to be extremely careful about intervening in matters of programme content. I am sure that the best way of making individual views known about a particular programme or about the general tenor of programmes is for those views to be directed to the governing body of the British Broadcasting Corporation which has the major responsibility for these matters.
§ Mr. WhiteheadWhile endorsing entirely what the Minister has said, may I ask whether he will accept that there has been considerable concern recently over the failure to observe section 12 of the Licence, as some would contend? Will he call for a report from the director general or the chairman of the Governors of the British Broadcasting Corporation relating to the contracts drawn up with the Time-Life organisation before advertisements were recently transmitted by the BBC?
§ Sir J. EdenSection 12 is a totally different matter from the subject of this Question.