§ The Chairman of CommitteesMy Lords, I beg to move the second Motion standing in my name on the Order Paper.
Moved, That a Select Committee on broadcasting be appointed to supervise the arrangements for, and deal with any problems or complaints out of, the televising and sound broadcasting of the proceedings of the House and its committees; and that as proposed by the Committee of Selection the following Lords be named of the Committee:
528 That the committee have power to adjourn from place to place and to report from time to time;
- L. Chesham,
- L. Gladwin of Clee,
- L. Graham of Edmonton,
- L. Merlyn-Rees,
- B. Rawlings,
- B. Seccombe,
- L. Thomson of Monifieth (Chairman),
- B. Wharton,
- E. Winchilsea and Nottingham;
That two be the quorum of the committee;
That the committee have power to appoint specialist advisers.—(The Chairman of Committees.)
§ Lord Boyd-CarpenterMy Lords, can my noble friend say why the list of noble Lords selected for this committee does not include my noble friend Lord Orr-Ewing, who has a knowledge of broadcasting unequalled by any Member of this House? Why has he not been included in the list?
§ The Chairman of CommitteesMy Lords, I seem to recall—and I have no doubt that other noble Lords will as well—the noble Lord, Lord Boyd-Carpenter, asking a similar question a year ago and a similar question two years ago. What I was able to tell him on those two occasions I am unable to add to today. I entirely agree with him that the noble Lord, Lord Orr-Ewing, is indeed endowed with great knowledge of broadcasting. The noble Lord will be aware that, as with other proposals before your Lordships' House for appointments to committees and other bodies, extensive consultations take place in the course of the preparation for these proposals to be put before your Lordships, through in particular—I am grateful to them—the usual channels. The names which emerged on this occasion are those of noble Lords who are eminently suitable to carry out the work which is proposed today.
§ Lord Pearson of RannochMy Lords, can the noble Lord enlighten us still further as to whether the name of my noble friend Lord Orr-Ewing went forward to the usual channels?
§ The Chairman of CommitteesMy Lords, I am unable to confirm or deny details about any names which are discussed, not least because there is such an extensive range of ability throughout your Lordships' House.
On Question, Motion agreed to.