HL Deb 16 February 1987 vol 484 cc853-5
Lord Graham of Edmonton

My 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 will make a Statement on the regulation of transnational broadcasting in Europe in the light of the EC draft directive proposing minimum quotas for EC programming and the convention issued by the Council of Europe proposing no quotas whatsoever.

The Minister of State, Home Office (The Earl of Caithness)

My Lords, the Government recognise that there should be a special place for programmes of European origin in our television schedules, but regard this as a domestic issue for each country to decide according to the prevailing circumstances within its borders. We believe that the proposed Council of Europe convention on broadcasting, the detail of which has yet to be discussed, is likely to follow a more sensible and flexible approach than the EC draft directive on this question as on others.

Lord Graham of Edmonton

My Lords, I am grateful to the Minister for that reply. Does he recall that when the Cable and Broadcasting Bill and the Films Bill went through this House concern was expressed on all sides about the need to protect the British film-making industry? Without some form of quota, British cultural and artistic identity will be damaged. How does the Minister reconcile the fact that although we have a regulatory framework in this country, we shall be unable to control the input into this country from Europe? Does the Minister also accept that without a quota there is a possibility of great damage being caused to the jobs and work of those who are engaged in film making in this country?

The Earl of Caithness

My Lords, there is of course control at present through the Broadcasting Act 1981. Also, the BBC has followed the example of the independent network. There is control too by the cable authority. The Government are at the moment looking to the time when we shall be able to receive programmes directly through dishes without cable.

Baroness Birk

My Lords, I noticed that the Minister said that the Government favour the Council of Europe convention rather than the EC draft directive. How do they intend to protect the high proportion of British-made programmes, which I think runs at 86 per cent., in the light of the fact that even the convention would drastically reduce our national control of broadcasting? With regard to direct broadcasting by satellite, how will the Government respond to the signals which will be available from other member states, for instance, from Luxembourg and France, which cannot be controlled by regulation? Will not a high proportion of DBS programming be of American origin which must therefore be injurious to British programmes in this country?

The Earl of Caithness

My Lords, the 86 per cent. to which the noble Baroness referred is of European Community origin at the moment. Naturally enough, the great majority of that in this country is British. It will be up to the viewers whether that amount changes because they will be able to switch off if they receive a programme which is not to their liking. As to the future, we believe that the Council of Europe offers greater scope because it involves many more countries than the European Community.

Lord Jenkins of Putney

My Lords, is the Minister aware that, while there is something to be said for that point of view, the viewers' power to switch off is not sufficient? Is he aware that the cultural integrity of the British broadcasting system has been under heavy pressure and will come under increasing pressure in the future with the technological developments to which he has referred? In all those circumstances, are the Government fully aware of the need to resist those pressures and to retain what I have already referred to as the cultural integrity of the British broadcasting system?

The Earl of Caithness

My Lords, that is why we have the Broadcasting Act 1981 and the cable authority.

Lord Morris

My Lords, is not protectionism in the arts, the media and communications as dangerous as it is in other fields?

The Earl of Caithness

My Lords, as my noble friend will be aware, within the Broadcasting Act 1981 and the BBC's charter, we have set down the terms under which broadcasters should manage their businesses.

Viscount Torrington

My Lords, is my noble friend aware that Sub-Committee B of the EC Select Committee has recently been looking into the whole subject of the draft directive, including quotas, and that its report will probably be published within the next few days?

The Earl of Caithness

My Lords, I am indeed aware of the work done by my noble friend and all the other noble Lords on the committee. The Government are extremely grateful to them for the hard work which they have put into studying this matter and look forward to receiving the report.

Lord Graham of Edmonton

My Lords, will the Minister bear in mind the parlous state of this country's film-making industry? Will he tell the House what consultations he and his colleagues had with British film makers and those who work in the industry before reaching their point of view? Will he also give some assurance to those who make films in this country that the Government have their best interests, which are the nation's best interests, at heart?

The Earl of Caithness

My Lords, the noble Lord asked me three supplementary questions. Yes, we have everyone's best interests at heart.

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