§ LORD DOUGLAS OF BARLOCHMy Lords, I beg to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the Independent Television Authority has appointed the Advisory Committee of persons having experience of, and special interest in. the welfare and education of children and young persons required by section 2 (1) (c) of the Television Act; whether this Committee is afforded an opportunity of seeing and hearing matter intended to be broadcast before such matter is broadcast: and whether this Committee has made any representations to the Authority relating to matter broadcast.]
§ LORD CHESHAMMy Lords, the Children's Advisory Committee has been set up. It met for the first time in November, 1955. The procedure adopted by the Committee is a matter for the Committee itself; but the Independent Television Authority's Report for 1956–57, copies of which are in the Library, describes some of the measures taken to keep children's programmes under review. It also makes clear that the Committee has close contacts not only with the Authority but—through an officer specially appointed for the job—with the programme companies. In the circumstances the need for formal representations to the Authority would hardly seem to arise.
§ LORD DOUGLAS OF BARLOCHMy Lords, do I understand from that Answer that, in fact, steps are taken to inform this Committee of what is proposed to be broadcast?
§ LORD CHESHAMMy Lords, the officer appointed by the Committee on its 729 behalf is at liberty to see, if he so wishes, any matter which can be seen beforehand, such as films and so on. Obviously, nobody could see unscripted programmes, of which there are quite a number during children's television hours.