HL Deb 11 July 1972 vol 333 cc113-6

2.54 p.m.

LORD AIREDALE

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 they take note of the proposed extension of commercial television broadcasting hours, consequent upon the lifting of restrictions on broadcasting hours; whether they consider the B.B.C. should enjoy equal opportunities in this field; and if so, whether they have plans to counterbalance the tendency of increased broadcasting hours to increase the revenue of commercial television, but to drain the financial resources of the B.B.C.

LORD DENHAM

My Lords, my right honourable friend has noted the plans of the Independent Television Authority to increase the number of hours for which they broadcast. Her Majesty's Government do not consider that B.B.C. Television, broadcasting two programmes, should be criticised if B.B.C. 1 does not match the hours of I.T.V.

My right honourable friend has no plans to increase the television licence fee, nor have the B.B.C. asked him to do so.

LORD AIREDALE

My Lords, I am obliged for that answer. Is the noble Lord aware that I was not considering this matter in the light of any criticism of the B.B.C., but rather in the light of equity and enabling the B.B.C. to compete on equal terms with their competitors, who appear to have a chance here to get richer? The only thing that can happen to the B.B.C. as a result of this is to get poorer.

LORD DENHAM

My Lords, I am very glad to know that the noble Lord is not criticising the B.B.C. Of course it is sometimes said that by extra broadcasting the B.B.C. will get poorer, and I.T.V. richer. In fact the extra hours are not expected to make a great deal of money for I.T.V. during the next year or two. It is expected that in 1972–73 they will bring in considerably less revenue than their extra costs.

BARONESS BURTON OF COVENTRY

My Lords, while declaring an interest in this matter which ended some three years ago, may I ask: does there not tend to be unfairness in discussing equity and equal opportunities? Does not the Minister agree that for many years the Independent Television Authority has sought extra hours and has been denied them on grounds of fairness to the B.B.C.; while the B.B.C. have had two channels and the I.T.A. only one?

LORD DENHAM

My Lords, I certainly agree with the noble Baroness.

LORD ORR-EWING

My Lords, does not my noble friend agree that, as the noble Baroness has just said, there are two full television services of the B.B.C., and that for too long the I.T.A. has been inhibited by successive Governments from using the capital equipment and the wave-lengths to provide entertainment? Why should shift workers be denied the possibility of television entertainment?

LORD DENHAM

My Lords, interests such as those of shift workers were in the minds of the I.T.A. in providing these extra hours.

LORD SHACKLETON

My Lords, does not the noble Lord agree that the tenor of this question reinforces again the argument for a proper inquiry into our broadcasting services, and the point that such an inquiry should be set up now, rather than in 1975?

LORD DENHAM

My Lords, obviously a great many things have to be decided before 1976, but I do not think that what has been said in these supplementary questions helps much one way or the other.

LORD BOOTHBY

My Lords, will Her Majesty's Government bear in mind the fact that this extension of television and radio hours and stations is turning life into an absolute nightmare? Would he not think of a reduction rather than an extension?

LORD DENHAM

No, my Lords. If the noble Lord, Lord Boothby, does not want a nightmare he will find a little knob at the side of his set which will turn it off.

BARONESS LEE OF ASHERIDGE

My Lords, will the noble Lord bear in mind the fact that the B.B.C., as a non-commercial organisation, are the envy of the world?

LORD DENHAM

Yes.

LORD SLATER

My Lords, is the noble Lord aware that constant talks concerning television and broadcasting hours have taken place between the B.B.C. and the I.T.A.? Would it not be a good idea to have a form of application which could be submitted for consideration by the responsible Minister?

LORD DENHAM

My Lords, if the noble Lord, Lord Slater, suggests that no decision should be made in regard to increasing I.T.V. hours, but that we should just wait to see whether the B.B.C, have similar plans, I am afraid that I cannot agree.

LORD GRIMSTON OF WESTBURY

My Lords, will my noble friend repeat the statement that it is not the Government's intention to increase the B.B.C. television licence fee?

LORD DENHAM

My Lords, I will certainly repeat that the B.B.C. have not asked for an increase in the fee.

BARONESS STOCKS

My Lords, have the Government any idea what type of shift work is compatible with television viewing?

LORD DENHAM

My Lords, I am not suggesting that because people turn on a particular television programme they are better shift workers. What I am saying is that shift workers who have time off during different periods are entitled to be considered.

LORD PARGITER

My Lords, should it not be a 24-hour service, because shift workers go round the clock?

LORD DENHAM

My Lords, the greater number of hours obviously gets it nearer to a 24-hour service, but I think it highly unlikely that either the B.B.C. or the I.T.A. will provide a 24-hour service in the foreseeable future.