§ 2.39 p.m.
§ BARONESS SUMMERSKILLMy Lords, I beg leave 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 they are aware that on the evening of February 6 an exhibition of prize fighting was shown on B.B.C. television from 9.15–9.45, repeatedly delaying the normal news bulletin, in consequence of which millions of people who abhor such displays were trapped into witnessing this spectacle; and whether they will make representations, in the interests of social progress, to ensure that the B.B.C. exercise greater discretion in the future.]
§ THE PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT (LORD CHESHAM)My Lords, the B.B.C. tell me that they arranged to show the whole of this boxing match so that the many millions of people who enjoy boxing might be able to watch it. One of the difficulties about scheduling time for boxing matches is that it is not known in advance if and when one of the participants will be knocked out. This did not happen on the occasion in question and the result was to postpone the News.
§ BARONESS SUMMERSKILLMy Lords, may I ask the noble Lord what 783 then, is the purpose of publishing the radio news which will guide people; what is the purpose of telling people to be selective about their viewing, when people all over the country are compelled, as in this case, to look at a sordid picture brought into their very living-rooms? Does he think that this is in the interests of social progress?
§ LORD CHESHAMMy Lords, I do not think that the question of whether it is in the interests of social progress is for me to answer at the moment. I would have said that the question of selective viewing had been brought into play on this occasion, and that if people who do not care for boxing—and I readily agree that there are people who do not—were trapped into watching for some time something that they did not care for, they could have turned down the volume and probably the light and glanced just occasionally to see whether or not the programme had changed to the News. If they did not, then it is truly an instrument well called the "goggle box".
§ BARONESS SUMMERSKILLMy Lords, I think the noble Lord is being quite irrational if he is telling the whole country now that the statements made by the B.B.C. about the timing of their programmes are inaccurate and that the only way that they can be selective is to turn the lights and the commentary down? Does he think that that is practical advice for a little kitchen into which this picture is brought?
§ LORD CHESHAMMy Lords, I was replying to what the noble Lady said about people being trapped into watching something for which they did not care, and I ventured to suggest what I thought was a fairly logical action. The question of the B.B.C.'s published timings is a matter for the B.B.C. For many years, as I think the noble Lady knows, it has been the practice and the accepted policy of successive Governments that the B.B.C. should remain independent in their day-to-day affairs, including the timing of programmes.
§ LORD CHAMPIONMy Lords, is the noble Lord aware that I thoroughly enjoyed this brutal and disgusting exhibition and should have been quite annoyed had it been switched off to show 784 a News programme about the state of the snow in the South-West?
§ LORD CHESHAMMy Lords, I have been told that no news is good news.
THE EARL OF GOSFORDMy Lords, is my noble friend aware that many millions of viewers are very grateful to the B.B.C. for having allowed them to see an exciting match?
§ BARONESS SUMMERSKILLMy Lords, may I just have the last word? Is the noble Lord aware that I have just been given 40 letters from people, as intelligent as the noble Earl who intervened and as the noble Lord on these Benches, who take an entirely opposite view—including a former President of the Royal College of Physicians?
§ LORD CHESHAMMy Lords, I think that we can all be aware that in this particular context, as in many others, there is room for more than one shade of opinion.