§ 13. Mr. Chopeasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if Her Majesty's Government have any plans to monitor political balance in BBC news broadcasts.
§ Mr. HurdNo, Sir. It is for the board of governors of the corporation, as I have just said, to ensure that BBC programmes are presented with due impartiality.
§ Mr. ChopeIs my right hon. Friend satisfied with the performance of the governors of the BBC in carrying out their responsibilities? Why can we not have the same straightforward newspaper reporting on BBC television as we enjoy when we listen to the BBC World Service?
§ Mr. HurdThat is the responsibility of the board of governors. I think it is entirely legitimate and, indeed, desirable, that citizens or organisations who feel themselves aggrieved or feel, as my hon. Friend evidently does, that standards have slipped in this regard should take every opportunity to make their views known direct to the governors. It is part of the responsibility of the governors to pay attention to that.