HL Deb 14 February 1990 vol 515 cc1384-5

Ministerial Statements

1. At present the broadcasting authorities are prohibited from televising ministerial statements which are repeated in the House of Lords, and subsequent exchanges.

2. This prohibition was originally recommended by the Select Commitee on Sound Broadcasting and repeated by the Select Committee on Televising the Proceedings of the House. It was thought inappropriate that only the repetition of a statement could be televised, at a time when the House of Commons did not admit television cameras. On both occasions the recommendation was agreed to by the House.

3. While abiding by the restriction, the broadcasting authorities did not welcome it. When proceedings in the House are interrupted by a statement television recording must cease and, in the case of a live broadcast, transmission is interrupted. Moreover the broadcasters are prevented from recording the exchanges following a statement which, especially when Lords speak from positions of particular authority or experience, can be of great interest. The broadcasting authorities have on two previous occasions requested the Committee to reconsider the restriction, but the Committee decided that no change in circumstances occasioned reconsideration.

4. The broadcasting authorities have recently again raised the matter with the Committee. Since the House of Commons is now televised, and ministerial statements made there can now be shown, the original reason for the restriction has been removed. No similar restriction has ever been imposed in respect of sound broadcasting.

5. The Committee therefore recommend that the broadcasting authorities should in future be permitted to televise ministerial statements repeated in the Lords, and subsequent exchanges.

Lord Cledwyn of Penrhos

My Lords, I am sure that we are all extremely grateful to the noble Lord and to members of the committee for the work that they have carried out over the years on our behalf. We very much appreciate in fact that Statements repeated in this House, and the discussion which follows, are now to be televised. I would not expect the noble Lord to be able to comment upon the question of lighting in this Chamber. However, he may be aware —as, indeed, are noble Lords on all sides of the House —that the lighting has deteriorated over the past few weeks while proceedings were being televised, whereas the lighting in another place, strangely enough, has improved. I only ask the noble Lord, and his noble friends, to consider the matter.

Lord Boyd-Carpenter

My Lords, I hope that my noble friend will pay great attention to the remarks made by the noble Lord the Leader of the Opposition. It is plain to the naked eye that the lighting is not as good as it was. Moreover, I have received several complaints from people who watch the broadcasts of our proceedings who say that we are at any rate marginally less visible than we were. Perhaps my noble friend will take up the matter.

As regards Statements, I support what the noble Lord opposite said. I very much welcome this announcement, not least because the comments of noble Lords on government Statements are often, if I may put it correctly, no less wise and helpful than those made in another place.

Lord Harmar-Nicholls

My Lords, can the noble Lord say what effect the fact that there is a picture being taken of everyone will have on the merit or demerit of any Statement?

The Chairman of Committees

My Lords, on the question of lighting, the noble Lord the Leader of the Opposition is quite right. There was a reduction in the lighting in this House due to the fact that the idea of economising on electrical costs resulted in bulbs of rather less power being installed. However, that situation has now been put right. Therefore I can assure my noble friend Lord Boyd-Carpenter that to the naked eye the bulbs are now back at their previous strength. That means that we should be achieving at least the same kind of pictures as we previously enjoyed.

However, as regards the question asked by my noble friend Lord Harmar-Nicholls, I am afraid that it is one which he will have to answer for himself. I really cannot help him in the matter.

On Question, Motion agreed to.