§ 2.36 p.m.
§ BARONESS SUMMERSKILLMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the first Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, in view of recent deaths and the grave risk of injury, they will give a direction to the B.B.C. and I.T.A. forbidding the showing on television of programmes which are calculated to glamourise boxing in the eyes of impressionable youths.]
EARL FERRERSMy Lords, it has been the policy of successive Governments to allow the broadcasting organisations independence in the day-to-day administration of their affairs, including the content of programmes. In these circumstances it would not be appropriate for Her Majesty's Government to issue directions for the purpose which the noble Lady has in mind.
§ BARONESS SUMMERSKILLMy Lords, while thanking the noble Earl for that Answer, may I remind him that we are concerned with the increasing rate of delinquency and hooliganism in this country? Does he think that it is in the interests of the less intelligent youth to have these fights brought right into the living-room of their homes where they are thereby taught that fighting with fists is praiseworthy?
EARL FERRERSMy Lords, I appreciate the concern of the noble Baroness, but of course she must realise, as I am sure she does, that this is a sport which a number of people take great enjoyment in watching, even if she does not, and as long as boxing remains a sport it is 922 up to the independent television companies, and indeed the B.B.C., to decide whether or not to show it.
THE LORD BISHOP OF EXETERMy Lords, would the noble Earl agree that boxing tournaments are conducted under rules, and if by looking at boxing tournaments the youth of this country, or some of them, can be persuaded that there are certain rules to be observed in the conduct of fighting, and that some of the practices which some young people are alleged to do, such as kicking people when they are down and kicking them in the face, are not allowed, the televising of boxing tournaments may perhaps do some good?
§ BARONESS SUMMERSKILLMy Lords, may I ask the noble Earl in regard to his last point—he will recall that he said a lot of people like watching boxing—whether he is aware that two weeks ago a boxing committee, set up by the business itself, announced that very few people were going to what they called their promotions and, indeed, that the boxing business was dying? How does the noble Earl reconcile that announcement with the statement he has just made, that people like it?
EARL FERRERSMy Lords, I think the noble Baroness has answered her own question. She just said that the committee said that the boxing industry was dying. Thus, if it is dying, it will not be televised.
§ BARONESS SUMMERSKILLMy Lords, the noble Earl will recall that he said people liked it and that is why it should be televised. But the people who are having to watch it are a captive audience; it is being imposed on them. How can they express whether or not they like it?
EARL FERRERSMy Lords, there is, of course, a far simpler remedy; that is, the use of the switch. Nobody is forced to watch a programme when it is televised. In answer to the right reverend Prelate, I would say that I entirely agree with him that if people learn the rules of boxing, of which there are many, there might be a great deal to be said for televising it even more.
§ LORD TAYLORMy Lords, has the right reverend Prelate watched any all-in wrestling on television?
§ LORD LINDGRENMy Lords, the noble Earl referred to boxing as a sport. I agree with him entirely, so far as amateur boxing is concerned, but would he not agree that professional boxing is now so commercialised that it is no longer a sport and that it endangers the fighters?
EARL FERRERSMy Lords, I think that is really outside the terms of the Question, but I would just remind the noble Lord of this, because I think we must get certain facts straight. While one appreciates the views which the noble Baroness and others hold, in fact this is a sport, and so long as it remains a legal and justified sport it is entirely up to the television companies to decide whether or not to televise it.