§ Mr. Gary Waller (Brighouse and Spenborough)On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. It relates to a point of order raised by the hon. Member for Jarrow (Mr. Dixon) late yesterday evening before the winding-up speeches during the debate on the Loyal Address. I do not criticise the hon. Gentleman's point of order. The hon. Gentleman had waited during the debate in the hope of catching the eye of the occupant of the Chair. I speak with some feeling because I also hoped to do so, but was unsuccessful.
Before the final speeches in the debate, the hon. Gentleman, on a point of order, drew attention to the fact that he had not been called and used somewhat extravagant language. Although the expletive has not been deleted from Hansard, it would be described as unparliamentary. You, however, Mr. Speaker, naturally showed considerable kindness to the hon. Gentleman because of his strong feelings and because a constituency interest was involved.
It is not what happened last night but what happened this morning that leads me to raise this point of order. As may be known, the BBC has altered the format of its programme "Yesterday in Parliament". Rather than being a programme which simply records what happens in the House of Commons, there is now a considerable element which reflects the view of the person presenting the programme. On the programme this morning, although most of the contributions during the debate were not included, the hon. Gentleman's point of order was, with the expletive which was not deleted from Hansard.
If the BBC, in exercising its responsibility to record what is said in Parliament, gives precedence, as it seems to do now, to sensational behaviour on the part of certain hon. Members, it will encourage other hon. Members to raise bogus points of order and to act similarly. It could be the thin end of the wedge. Although I realise that you, Mr. Speaker, are not responsible for what the BBC presents, I hope that some guidance will be given so that behaviour in Parliament does not deteriorate.
§ Mr. Michael English (Nottingham, West)Further to that point of order, Mr. Speaker. It is fair to say in support of the hon. Member for Brighouse and Spenborough (Mr. Waller) that the programme "Yesterday in Parliament" no longer exists. It is now subsumed in the programme "Today". The only programme of record that now provides for the BBC's charter requirements is "Today in Parliament" at 11.30 pm.
§ Mr. Don Dixon (Jarrow)Further to that point of order, Mr. Speaker. I did not raise my point of order last night in order to get publicity. I sat through the debate last night because my constituency will be devastated by the denationalisation of British Shipbuilders. I raised my point of order not for publicity but on behalf of people outside. When I referred to hon. Members waffling on, I was referring to hon. Members, most of whom spoke during the debates, who had never seen a pair of overalls, let alone worn a pair.
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. We have a Select Committee on Sound Broadcasting. The matters which the hon. Gentleman has raised should be examined by the appropriate Committee because of the feeling on both sides of the House.
§ Mr. Andrew Faulds (Warley, East)My hon. Friend the Member for Jarrow (Mr. Dixon) has made a totally valid defence of his position last night, but, as one who has consistently supported the BBC throughout my term in the House of Commons, I have to say that there has been a marked decline in the standard, responsibility and quality of both "Yesterday in Parliament" and "Today in Parliament" over the past 18 months or so.
§ Mr. SpeakerThe House is still the master of its own affairs. It decides whether broadcasting should continue. The matter is in the hands of the House, and I hope that we shall all be reasonable about it and will count to ten. The Committee will examine the matter.