§ '(1) Subject to subsecton (2) below, neither the Board nor any of the Board's subsidiaries—
- (a) shall commence a business of publishing newspapers, magazines or other periodicals for sale to the public in the United Kingdom; or
- (b) enter into any contract with the Independent Broadcasting Authority for the provision of programmes.
§ (2) Subsection (1) above does not apply to periodicals wholly or mainly concerned with the activities of the Board or any of the Board's subsidiaries.
§ (3) Subject to subsection (4) below, neither the Board nor any of the Board's subsidiaries shall acquire any of the share capital of a body corporate if a substantial part of the under-taking—
- (a) of that body corporate, or
- (b) of a group of companies of which it is the holding company,
consists of carrying on—
- (i) a business such as is mentioned in paragraph (a) of subsection (1) above, or
- (ii) the activities of a programme contractor.
§ (4) Subsection (3) above shall not prevent the acquisition of share capital of a body corporate if the acquisition is made in pursuance of a direction under section 3 above.
§ (5) Subject to subsections (7) and (8) below, if the Board or any of the Board's subsidiaries acquire any of the share capital of a body corporate which carries on any such business as is mentioned in subsection (1)(a) above, it shall be their duty to exercise their voting power with a view to securing that the body corporate disposes of the business as soon as practicable.
§ (6) Subject to subsections (7) and (8) below, if the Board or any of the Board's subsidiaries acquire any of the share capital of a body corporate which has any interest, direct or indirect, in a body corporate which carries on such a business, it shall be their duty to exercise their voting power with a view to securing that the capital of the body corporate which carries on that business is disposed of as soon as practicable.
§ (7) The Secretary of State, by direction under section 6 above, may release the Board—
- (a) from any duty imposed on them by subsection (5) or (b) above;
- (b) from any duty to ensure that one of their subsidiaries performs any duty imposed on that subsidiary by either of those subsections.
§ (8) The Secretary of State may only give such a direction as is mentioned in subsection (7) 1327 above if he is of the opinion that without such a direction serious commercial injury would be caused to any newspaper, magazine or periodical concerned.
§ (9) If the Board or any of the Board's subsidiaries acquire any of the share capital of a body corporate which is a programme contractor, they shall consult the Independent Broadcasting Authority as to the steps that they are to take with regard to that share capital and obey any direction given by that Authority.
§ (10) Without prejudice to the foregoing provisions of this section, it shall be the duty of the Board and of any of the Board's subsidiaries to use any power to control or influence the carrying on of a business such as is
1328§ mentioned in paragraph (a) of subsection (1) above or of activities such as are mentioned in paragraph (b) of that subsection only in relation to financial or commercial matters.
§ (11) In this section "programme contractor" has the meaning assigned to it by section 2(3) of the Independent Broadcasting Authority Act 1973.—[Mr. Varley.]
§ Brought up, and read.
§ Motion made, and Question put, That the clause be added to the Bill:—
§ The House divided: Ayes 332, Noes 66.
1329| Division No. 255.] | AYES | [9.42 p.m. |
| Alison, Michael | Cunningham, G. (Islington S) | Hardy, Peter |
| Archer, Peter | Cunningham, Dr J. (Whiten) | Harrison, Walter (Wakefield) |
| Armstrong, Ernest | Dalyell, Tarn | Harvie Anderson, Rt Hon Miss |
| Atkins, Rt Hon H. (Spalthorne) | Davidson, Arthur | Hastings, Stephen |
| Awdry, Daniel | Davies, Denzil (Llanelli) | Havers, Sir Michael |
| Bagier, Gordon A. T. | Davies, Rt Hon J. (Knutsford) | Hayhoe, Barney |
| Bain, Mrs Margaret | Davis, Clinton (Hackney C) | Hayman, Mrs Helene |
| Baker, Kenneth | Deakins, Eric | Henderson, Douglas |
| Banks, Robert | Dean, Joseph (Leeds W) | Heseltine, Michael |
| Barnett, Rt Hon Joel (Heywood) | Dean, Paul (N Somerset) | Hicks, Robert |
| Bates, All | de Freitas, Rt Hon Sir Geoffrey | Holland, Philip |
| Bean, R. E. | Dempsey, James | Hooley, Frank |
| Beith, A. J. | Dodsworth, Geoffrey | Hordern, Peter |
| Bennett, Dr Reginald (Fareham) | Doig, Peter | Howell, David (Guildford) |
| Benyon, W. | Douglas-Hamilton, Lord James | Howell, Denis (B'ham, Sm H) |
| Biffen, John | Drayson, Burnaby | Howell, Ralph (North Norfolk) |
| Bishop, E. S. | Duffy, A. E. P. | Howells, Geraint (Cardigan) |
| Blenkinsop, Arthur | Dunn, James A. | Huckfield, Les |
| Boardman, H. | Dunnett, Jack | Hughes, Mark (Durham) |
| Booth, Albert | Durant, Tony | Hughes, Robert (Aberdeen N) |
| Boothroyd, Miss Betty | Dykes, Hugh | Hunter, Adam |
| Boscawen, Hon Robert | Edelman, Maurice | Hutchison, Michael Clark |
| Bottomley, Rt Hon Arthur | Edwards, Nicholas (Pembroke) | Irvine, Rt Hon Sir A. (Edge Hill) |
| Bottomley, Peter | Elliott, Sir William | Irvine, Bryant Godman (Rye) |
| Bowden, A. (Brighton, Kemptown) | Ellis, John (Brigg & Scun) | Irving, Rt Hon S. (Dartford) |
| Boyden, James (Bish Auck) | Ellis, Tom (Wrexham) | Jackson, Miss Margaret (Lincoln) |
| Boyson, Dr Rhodes (Brent) | English, Michael | James, David |
| Braine, Sir Bernard | Ewing, Harry (Stirling) | Jay, Rt Hon Douglas |
| Brotherton, Michael | Fairbairn, Nicholas | Jenkin, Rt Hon P. (Wanst'd & W'df'd) |
| Brown, Sir Edward (Bath) | Fairgrieve, Russell | Jessel, Toby |
| Brown, Hugh D. (Provan) | Farr, John | John, Brynmor |
| Brown, Robert C. (Newcastle W) | Finsberg, Geoffrey | Johnston, Russell (Inverness) |
| Bryan, Sir Paul | Fisher, Sir Nigel | Jones, Alec (Rhondda) |
| Buchanan, Richard | Fitch, Alan (Wigan) | Jones, Barry (East Flint) |
| Buchanan-Smith, Alick | Fletcher, Alex (Edinburgh N) | Jones. Dan (Burnley) |
| Budgen, Nick | Fookes, Miss Janet | Jopling, Michael |
| Bulmer. Esmond | Foot, Rt Hon Michael | Kaufman, Gerald |
| Butler, Adam (Bosworth) | Fowler, Gerald (The Wrekin) | Kilfedder, James |
| Callaghan, Rt Hon J. (Cardiff SE) | Fowler, Norman (Sutton C'f'd) | King, Evelyn (South Dorset) |
| Campbell, Ian | Fox, Marcus | King, Tom (Bridgwater) |
| Carlisle, Mark | Fraser, Rt Hon H. (Stafford & St) | Kirk, Peter |
| Carmichael, Neil | Fraser, John (Lambeth, N'w'd) | Kitson, Sir Timothy |
| Carter-Jones, Lewis | Gardner, Edward (S Fylde) | Knight, Mrs Jill |
| Chalker, Mrs Lynda | George, Bruce | Knox, David |
| Churchill, W. S. | Gilbert, Dr John | Lamborn, Harry |
| Clarke, Kenneth (Rushcliffe) | Gilmour, Sir John (East Fife) | Lamont, Norman |
| Clegg, Walter | Golding, John | Lane, David |
| Clemitson, Ivor | Goodhart, Philip | Lawson, Nigel |
| Cockcroft, John | Goodlad, Alastair | Lester, Jim (Beeston) |
| Cocks, Michael (Bristol S) | Gourlay, Harry | Lewis, Ron (Carlisle) |
| Cohen, Stanley | Gower, Sir Raymond (Barry) | Lipton, Marcus |
| Coleman, Donald | Graham, Ted | Lomas, Kenneth |
| Cooke, Robert (Bristol W) | Grant, George (Morpeth) | Luce, Richard |
| Cope, John | Grant, John (Islington C) | Lyon, Alexander (York) |
| Cox, Thomas (Tooting) | Gray, Hamish | Lyons, Edward (Bradford W) |
| Craigen. J. M. (Maryhill) | Grimond, Rt Hon J. | MacCormick, Iain |
| Crawford, Douglas | Grylls, Michael | McCrindle, Robert |
| Crawshaw, Richard | Hall, Sir John | McElhone, Frank |
| Cronin, John | Hall-Davis, A. G. F. | Macfarlane, Neil |
| Crosland, Rt Hon Anthony | Hamilton, James (Bothwell) | MacFarquhar, Roderick |
| Crouch, David | Hampson, Dr Keith | MacGregor, John |
| Crowder, F. P. | Hannam, John | McGuire, Michael (Ince) |
| Mackenzie, Gregor | Parkinson, Cecil | Stanley, John |
| McMillan, Tom (Glasgow C) | Pattie, Geoffrey | Steel, David (Roxburgh) |
| McNair-Wilson, P. (New Forest) | Pavitt, Laurie | Stewart, Ian (Hitchin) |
| Madel, David | Penhaligon, David | Stewart, Rt Hon M. (Fulham) |
| Mallalieu, J. P. W | Percival, Ian | Stoddart, David |
| Marks, Kenneth | Phipps, Dr Colin | Stott, Roger |
| Marquand, David | Pink, R. Bonner | Stradling Thomas, J. |
| Marshall, Dr Edmund (Goole) | Price, William (Rugby) | Strang, Gavin |
| Marshall, Michael (Arundel) | Pym, Rt Hon Francis | Strauss, Rt Hon G. R. |
| Marten, Neil | Rathbone, Tim | Taylor, Teddy (Cathcart) |
| Mason, Rt Hon Roy | Rawlinson, Rt Hon Sir Peter | Tebbit, Norman |
| Mates, Michael | Rees, Peter (Dover & Deal) | Temple-Morris, Peter |
| Mawby, Ray | Reid, George | Thatcher, Rt Hon Margaret |
| Maxwell-Hyslop, Robin | Renton, Rt Hon Sir D. (Hunts) | Thomas, Jeffrey (Abertillery) |
| Mayhew, Patrick | Renton, Tim (Mid-Sussex) | Thomas, Rt Hon P. (Hendon S) |
| Mellish, Rt Hon Robert | Ridley, Hon Nicholas | Tinn, James |
| Meyer, Sir Anthony | Ridsdale, Jullan | Tomlinson, John |
| Millan, Bruce | Rifkind, Malcolm | Trotter, Neville |
| Miller, Hal (Bromsgrove) | Roberts, Albert (Normanton) | Tugendhat, Christopher |
| Mills, Peter | Roberts, Michael (Cardiff NW) | Urwin, T. W. |
| Miscampbell, Norman | Roberts, Wyn (Conway) | van Straubenzee, W. R. |
| Mitchell, David (Basingstoke) | Rodgers, William (Stockton) | Varley, Rt Hon Eric G. |
| Mitchell, R. C. (Soton, Itchen) | Rooker, J. W. | Vaughan, Dr Gerard |
| Moate, Roger | Ross, Stephen (Isle of Wight) | Viggers, Peter |
| Monro, Hector | Ross, Rt Hon W. (Kilmarnock) | Wainwright, Edwin (Dearne V) |
| Montgomery, Fergus | Rossi, Hugh (Hornsey) | Wainwright, Richard (Colne V) |
| Moore, John (Croydon C) | Rowlands, Ted | Walden, Brian (B'ham, L'dyw'd) |
| Morris, Alfred (Wythenshawe) | Ryman, John | Walker, Harold (Doncaster) |
| Morris, Charles R. (Openshaw) | Sainsbury, Tim | Ward, Michael |
| Morris, Michael (Northampton S) | Sandelson, Neville | Weatherill, Bernard |
| Morrison, Charles (Devizes) | Shaw, Giles (Pudsey) | Weitzman, David |
| Morrison, Hon Peter (Chester) | Sheldon, Robert (Ashton-u-Lyne) | White, Frank R. (Bury) |
| Mudd, David | Shelton, William (Streatham) | Whiteiaw, Rt Hon William |
| Mulley, Rt Hon Frederick | Shepherd, Colin | Whitlock, William |
| Murray, Rt Hon Ronald King | Shersby, Michael | Wigley, Dafydd |
| Neave, Airey | Silkin, Rt Hon John (Deptford) | Williams, Alan (Swansea W) |
| Nelson, Anthony | Silkin, Rt Hon S. C. (Dulwich) | Williams, Alan Lee (Hornch'ch) |
| Neubert, Michael | Silvester, Fred | Williams, Rt Hon Shirley (Hertford) |
| Newton, Tony | Sims, Roger | Williams, W. T. (Warrington) |
| Nott, John | Sinclair, Sir George | Wilson, Gordon (Dundee E) |
| Oakes, Gordon | Skeet, T. H. H. | Wilson, William (Coventry SE) |
| Ogden, Eric | Small, William | Winterton, Nicholas |
| O'Malley, Rt Hon Brian | Smith, Cyril (Rochdale) | Woodall, Alec |
| Orme, Rt Hon Stanley | Smith, Dudley (Warwick) | Wrigglesworth, Ian |
| Owen, Dr David | Smith, John (N Lanarkshire) | Young, Sir G. (Ealing, Acton) |
| Page, Rt Hon R. Graham (Crosby) | Speed, Keith | Younger, Hon George |
| Palmer, Arthur | Spence, John | |
| Pardoe, John | Spicer, Michael (S Worcester) | TELLERS FOR THE AYES: |
| Park, George | Sproat, Iain | Mr. Joseph Harper and |
| Parker, John | Stanbrook, Ivor | Mr. J. D. Dormand. |
| NOES | ||
| Allaun, Frank | Hatton, Frank | Roberts, Gwilym (Cannock) |
| Ashton, Joe | Heffer, Eric S. | Roderick, Caerwyn |
| Atkins, Ronald (Preston N) | Hoyle, Doug (Nelson) | Rodgers, George (Choriey) |
| Atkinson, Norman | Hughes, Roy (Newport) | Sedgemore, Brian |
| Barnett, Guy (Greenwich) | Kilroy-Silk, Robert | Selby, Harry |
| Bennett, Andrew (Stockport N) | Kinnock, Neil | Short, Mrs Renée (Wolv NE) |
| Bray, Dr Jeremy | Lambie, David | Sillars, James |
| Buchan, Norman | Lamond, James | Skinner, Dennis |
| Callaghan, Jim (Middleton & P) | Lee, John | Spriggs, Leslie |
| Canavan, Dennis | Litterick, Tom | Stallard, A. W. |
| Cook, Robin F. (Edin C) | McCartney, Hugn | Taylor, Mrs Ann (Bolton W) |
| Corbett, Robin | Madden, Max | Thomas, Ron (Bristol NW) |
| Cryer, Bob | Marshall, Jim (Leicester S) | Thorne, Stan (Preston South) |
| Davies, Bryan (Enfield N) | Maynard, Miss Joan | Torney, Tom |
| Edge, Geoff | Mikardo, Ian | Watkinson, John |
| Evans, Ioan (Aberdare) | Miller, Dr M. S. (E Kilbride) | Wilson, Alexander (Hamilton) |
| Evans, John (Newton) | Molloy, William | Wise, Mrs Audrey |
| Fernyhough, Rt Hon E. | Newens, Stanley | Woof, Robert |
| Flannery, Martin | Noble, Mike | Young, David (Bolton E) |
| Fletcher, Ted (Darlington) | Ovenden, John | |
| Garrett, John (Norwich S) | Prescott, John | TELLERS FOR THE NOES: |
| Garrett, W. E. (Wallsend) | Price, C. (Lewisham W) | Mr. Russell Kerr and |
| Hamilton, W. W. (Central Fife) | Richardson, Miss Jo | Mr. Eddie Loyden. |
| Hart, Rt Hon Judith |
§ Question accordingly agreed to.
§ Clause added to the Bill.