§ 2.35 p.m.
THE EARL OF BESSBOROUGHMy 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 of the urgency of a decision on the Television Advisory Committee's recommendation on Colour Television and of the growing embarrassment caused to the B.B.C. the I.T.A., the independent television companies and the radio manufacturing industry by the delay in announcing their decision.]
§ THE PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF TECHNOLOGY (LORD SNOW)My Lords, Her Majesty's Government are actively aware of the interest in colour television. This is why my right honourable friend the Postmaster General took the earliest opportunity of making known the Television Advisory Committee's recommendation: that is, that colour television be introduced on the 625-line definition standard only; and using the PAL system of transmission. He is now considering that advice and will announce Her Majesty's Government's decision as soon as possible.
THE EARL OF BESSBOROUGHMy Lords, while thanking the noble Lord for that answer, which again, I am afraid, does not take us very much further, and while adding as perhaps I should, that I no longer have any interest to declare, may I ask whether the Government are aware that if they adopted the recom- 480 mendation of the Advisory Committee to confine colour television to 625-lines, that would deprive I.T.A. of any colour transmission; and are they aware that the only way the independent companies, which already produce colour programmes, could engage in colour television would be if the Government authorised a new I.T.A. network on the 625-line standard?
§ LORD SNOWMy Lords, we are well aware of these things. In fact, we should be deaf if we were not aware of them, since I have been talking to the electronics industry about these problems for the last two or three months. We are taking these considerations into close consideration. We know it very well and I assure the noble Earl that nothing he has said will be lost in our consideration.
§ THE EARL OF IDDESLEIGHMy Lords, declaring the interest that I live in Devonshire, may I ask whether the noble Lord can say anything about the coverage of the new service?
§ LORD SNOWMy Lords, I am afraid that I cannot give the noble Earl much consolation, but in fact this is part of the general consideration of all television authorities.
§ LORD MERRIVALEMy Lords, before Her Majesty's Government decide to adopt the German PAL system or otherwise, would it not be wise to wait the outcome of the demonstration which is taking place in Rome in March or April next year, between the French Secam and the German PAL systems under the auspices of the I.C.C.R.? That is a preliminary meeting. I understand, which is to take place prior to the full meeting of I.T.C.I. in Oslo.
§ LORD SNOWMy Lords, the noble Lord's question reminds us that any Government are between two fires. The noble Earl wants us to make up our minds at once while the noble Lord wants us to delay for some other considerations. In fact, all Governments are really in a desperate predicament on this question. It is difficult to make a choice. On the other hand, we must not make a choice too soon.
§ LORD MERRIVALEMy Lords, judging by the Government's past 481 attitude, would the noble Lord not agree that it would be better to wait a bit rather than take a wrong decision by adopting a less effective and less efficient method?
§ LORD SNOWNo, my Lords, I cannot agree there with the noble Lord. We have considered this matter for a long time and I suspect that it is time that some decision was announced.
§ LORD AIREDALEMy Lords, may I ask the noble Lord the question that was asked by the noble Lord, Lord James of Rusholme, in a recent debate?—namely,
… whether it is really necessary that education should be sacrificed so that we can have colour TV. Is that such an essential part of the good life that we are prepared to spend on it money that might otherwise go into primary schools or into universities? "— [OFFICIAL REPORT, Vol. 270 (No. 12), col. 1317; 1/12/65.]Can we be assured that when colour television comes a substantial part of the programme time will be devoted to programmes of a broadly educational nature and not just entertainment all day long?
§ LORD SNOWMy Lords, if this question were a simple one there would be no doubt in my mind, any more than there is in the mind of the noble Lord. If it were just a matter of investment in education or in colour television, I would not hesitate for one moment, but in fact it is not so. It is no more simple than any other human problem. The case for colour television is that there is a substantial trade to be done in it, which in turn will come back to us and make it possible for us to invest more in education and not less. This is a very delicate and difficult problem and, as in many others, there is not a simple answer. But I can assure the noble Lord, Lord Airedale, that the problems of using television for education are immediately present in our minds at this moment.
LORD HAWKEMy Lords, can Her Majesty's Government make it clear whether we shall be able to see the Liberal Party in its true colours on this new system?