§ 2.46 p.m.
§ Lord Orr-EwingMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question standing in my name on the Order Paper.
§ The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have plans to improve arrangements for the continuation of broadcasting in wartime.
§ The Minister of State, Home Office (Lord Elton)Yes, my Lords. The main improvements involve the strengthening of installations at certain BBC transmitters and the extension of the Wartime Broadcasting Service to include its local radio stations.
§ Lord Orr-EwingMy Lords, can my noble friend say whether plans are in hand to have a very close liaison between regional and local authorities and their adjacent stations? Whereas it is good to hear that the BBC has been incorporated in the wartime emergency network, surely arrangements should be made for the independent stations as well—both independent radio and independent television stations—to play a part in such an emergency.
§ Lord EltonMy Lords, local authorities would have access to the wartime broadcasting service through the regional government headquarters. As to the involvement of the independent sector, I understand that the WTBS plans rely principally on the broadcasting corporation.
§ Lord Jenkins of PutneyMy Lords, does the noble Lord consider that in the event of wartime envisaged by his noble friend, including nuclear war, it would still be possible to carry out broadcasting of any kind at all?
§ Lord EltonMy Lords, that would depend upon the success of our present plans and the vigour with which they are pursued.
§ Lord LeatherlandMy Lords, will the noble Lord tell us which war he is talking about?
§ Lord EltonMy Lords, I hope that I am wrong in saying it is the next one, because I profoundly believe that we should be able to avoid it happening at all.