HL Deb 14 October 1981 vol 424 cc378-80

3.10 p.m.

Lord Chalfont

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 have received representations from the Government of the Republic of South Africa regarding the television programme on Angola broadcast by Granada Television in the "World in Action" series on Monday, 3rd August last.

Lord Trefgarne

Yes, my Lords. The South African Ambassador called upon the then Lord Privy Seal on 7th August to complain about the programme.

Lord Chalfont

My Lords, I thank the Minister for that not very informative reply. May I ask him what was the reaction of the Lord Privy Seal to the representations made by the South African Ambassador? May I also ask him whether he is aware that the film referred to accused the South African forces of atrocities, including the bayoneting of babies and pregnant women, allegations which the film was totally unable to substantiate?

Lord Trefgarne

My Lords, I have not seen the film, but I have no doubt that what the noble Lord has said is right as to what the film contained. My right honourable friend the then Lord Privy Seal told the Ambassador that Her Majesty's Government have no control over the content of television programmes.

Lord Avebury

My Lords, may I ask the noble Lord whether the then Lord Privy Seal also explained to the South African Ambassador that in Britain, unlike South Africa, journalists cannot be jailed or exiled for what they say?

Lord Trefgarne

My Lords, I have no doubt that the Ambassador knows that already.

Lord Whaddon

My Lords, may I ask whether or not it was pointed out to the Ambassador that if South African troops had not been in Angola the situation would not have arisen?

Lord Trefgarne

My Lords, this matter arose just before the South African incursion into Angola, but I have no doubt that the point again was not lost on His Excellency.

Lord Chalfont

My Lords, is the noble Lord aware that my Question does not refer to the foreign or domestic policies of the Government of South Africa, which I am not here to defend? The Question refers to a film which the Independent Broadcasting Authority itself has said was not impartial and did not rise even to the minimum standards of journalistic integrity? Is the noble Lord further aware that when the Government of Saudi Arabia made a similar representation to Her Majesty's Government about a film which had offended them his noble friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs made a public apology? Has such an apology been considered in this case?

Lord Trefgarne

My Lords, I do not think that the two are in any way comparable. In any event, the simple fact remains that we have no control over these television programmes.

Lord Jenkins of Putney

My Lords, is the noble Lord aware that some of us are not particularly proud of the posture of this country towards Saudi Arabia in relation to the other incident which the noble Lord, Lord Chalfont, mentioned and are rather glad that it has not been repeated on this occasion?

Lord Trefgarne

My Lords, the noble Lord, Lord Chalfont, did refer to what he described as inaccuracies and errors in the film about which the South Africans were complaining. It is no part of my job to defend that film which in fact I did not see, but I do take the point of the noble Lord.

Lord Orr-Ewing

My Lords, is the noble Lord aware that the imbalance on both channels, both the ITA and the BBC, is sometimes so glaring that one does wonder whether we have got the best possible process for controlling it through independent authorities? I am not for a moment suggesting that we should control it through Parliament, but there is lack of balance. A recent BBC documentary suggested that the Vietnam war was the American war. This in no way reflects history and in no way reflects the fact that North Vietnam was attacking South Vietnam. To describe it in those terms in relation to a very important ally of ours is quite incorrect.

Lord Trefgarne

My Lords, the fact is that we get complaints from all sides about the content of television programmes, press articles and so on. I suspect that we get it about right.

Lord Elwyn-Jones

My Lords, is not the use of the word "control" over the broadcasting authorities rather sinister and dangerous? This does not, I hope, reflect the views of the Front Bench opposite. However, it is rather dismaying to hear it even from a Back Bench.

Lord Trefgarne

My Lords, the noble and learned Lord well knows the answer to that question As I said in the original Answer, and in my first or second supplementary, the Government have no control over the content of television programmes and certainly seek none.

Lord Orr-Ewing

My Lords, may I make it clear that I was not suggesting that we should have any control from Parliament? I specifically made that point. I am sure that it was an error if I said the opposite, and I apologise. However, I think that the noble and learned Lord opposite got it wrong.

Lord Derwent

My Lords, it was quite clear that my noble friend was talking about control of television by the television authorities.