§ Mr. David Lidington (Aylesbury)I wish to present a petition signed by more than 2, 000 people, the great majority of whom are constituents of mine in Aylesbury and the surrounding area. The petition calls on the Government to introduce legislation to amend the law, which at present discriminates against the ownership of broadcasting licences by religious bodies.
The petition states:
That radio and television are now the most important means of communicating ideas and that religious bodies are substantially disadvantaged in access to and involvement in radio and television broadcasting by legislation and by rules and codes of guidance issued by the broadcasting regulatory authorities.Wherefore your Petitioners pray that your Honourable House will urge the Department for Culture, Media and Sport to bring forward proposals to amend the legislation to remove discrimination against the ownership of broadcasting licences by religious bodies, and to require the Independent Television Commission and the Radio Authority to amend their rules and codes of guidance to remove provisions which discriminate, in wording or in practice, against religious bodies.I simply add that the petitioners have my full support.
§ To lie upon the Table.