§ Lord PEARTMy Lords, I think that it would be for the convenience of the House if I made a brief Statement about sound broadcasting.
The House will recall that, in July last, the broadcasting authorities were authorised to provide and operate sound signal origination equipment for the purpose of recording or broadcasting the proceedings of the House. The necessary arrangements are now complete and will become 1802 operational as from Tuesday, 4th April, the day the House returns from the Easter Recess. From then on, the BBC and the IBA will be able to broadcast programmes containing live material from the Chamber.
A master tape of the proceedings in both Houses will be preserved in the Parliamentary Sound Archive Unit which is situated on the third floor of the Norman Shaw (South) building, where noble Lords will be able to listen to any tapes, should they wish to do so.
The conduct of sound broadcasting will be under the general supervision of the Select Committee which was appointed on 9th March and of which the noble Lord, Lord Aberdare, is the Chairman. This committee has power to meet with a similar committee which has been appointed in another place.
Lord WINSTANLEYMy Lords, while I thank the noble Lord the Leader of the House for that Statement and the very welcome news contained in it, may I ask him whether he is aware that there could be grave difficulties for certain Members of your Lordships' House and, indeed, for Members of another place and for the Independent Television Authority itself, if rapid progress is not made with the Independent Television Bill to repeal Section 4(2) of the Act, which requires the Authority to exclude from its programmes the contributions of Members of both Houses of Parliament?
§ Lord PEARTMy Lords, I do not think that the noble Lord need worry. I do not believe that there will be any delay.