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 paragraph 73 of the White Paper entitled, A Policy for the Arts: The First Steps, in which the hope is expressed that the introduction of additional channels for television will encourage further experiment and development, means that further television and radio stations are likely soon to be licensed; and, if so, whether these stations will be operated by the B.B.C., Independent Television, by both or by any other educational bodies.]
§ LORD HOBSONMy Lords, Her Majesty's Government is reviewing broadcasting policy in a variety of its aspects. The question whether further services of television and sound radio should be authorised, and, if so, how 60 they would be constituted, organised and financed, is one of the issues under examination. This review will inevitably take a considerable time to complete. Her Majesty's Government will announce its conclusions as soon as it has reached them.
THE EARL OF BESSBOROUGHMy Lords, while thanking the noble Lord for that reply, is he not aware that it is now some eighteen months since the Prime Minister declared his intention of establishing a University of the Air? Is he not also aware that there is great demand in this country for a variety of television programmes, not merely for a second independent television service, but also for more educational programmes? Will the Government be pressing ahead with its plans for these educational stations?
§ LORD HOBSONMy Lords, I am sure that Her Majesty's Government is aware of all the points that the noble Earl has mentioned. It all boils down to a question of priorities, to a question of which are first essentials; and, frankly, I do not think that the Government could put broadcasting as a top priority.
THE EARL OF BESSBOROUGHMy Lords, I think that education is a very high priority in this country. I think that that is agreed on both sides of the House. While recognising that there are already a certain number of closed-circuit television installations in universities, I would ask: would not the noble Lord agree that a larger number of people would benefit, if some of these lectures and demonstrations were also broadcast over the air?
§ LORD HOBSONMy Lords, again I agree with the point which the noble Earl has put forward, but it still comes down to a question of what shall be done first.
LORD ST. JUSTMy Lords, does the noble Lord not agree that the crux of the matter is really finance? So far as I can see at the moment, from the White Paper, the Government will be fully committed on the money that has already been handed over to the Arts Council.
§ LORD HOBSONMy Lords, I am entirely in agreement with the noble Lord.