HL Deb 04 March 1969 vol 300 cc4-5

2.40 p.m.

LORD TREFGARNE

My 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, in view of the Prime Minister's recent statement in the House of Commons, they will used their influence with the Independent Television Authority to prevent the broadcasting of the play Soldiers by Rolf Hochhuth.]

THE LORD PRIVY SEAL (LORD SHACKLETON)

My Lords, the responsibility for the content of programmes rests with the Chairman and members of the Independent Television Authority; and it is not the Government's practice to intervene.

LORD TREFGARNE

My Lords, I am grateful to the noble Lord for that reply. Would he not agree that the allegations made in this play are bound to cause great pain to the immediate relatives of those depicted in the play? Secondly, would he not also agree that the broadcasting of this play, as distinct from producing it in the West End, is bound to bring these allegations to the notice of a far wider public, who might not have the necessary judgment to reconcile the artistic merit and the historical inaccuracies found in the play?

LORD SHACKLETON

My Lords, I do not quite see what the noble Lord's question is to do with me. This is not a matter for the Government to rule on whether the play should be broadcast or not.

LORD BYERS

My Lords, whatever the merits of this play, will the Government please resist any suggestions that they should step into this or any other controversy of this sort which is properly within the province of the Independent Television Authority?

LORD SHACKLETON

My Lords, I am grateful to the noble Lord. They are suggestions which I am in fact trying to resist.