M. GEORGES BIDAULT

HC Deb 13 March 1963 vol 673 cc154-5W

63. Mr. John Hall

asked the Lord Privy Seal what advice from the Foreign Office was sought by or given to the British Broadcasting Corporation before the interview with M. Bidault was screened on television.

65. Mr. Warbey

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will make a statement on the actions taken by the Foreign Office subsequent to the receipt of the information that M. Bidault had recorded a television interview for the British Broadcasting Corporation.

Mr. Heath

The Foreign Office learned on 25th January that the British Broadcasting Corporation had previously recorded an interview with M. Bidault. The Foreign Office asked the British Broadcasting Corporation for confirmation, pointed out the international implications, and inquired what were the British Broadcasting Corporation's plans for broadcasting the recording. The British Broadcasting Corporation stated that they had already made their own decision not to broadcast it at that time. Subsequently, the British Broadcasting Corporation, acting on its own responsibility as an independent Corporation, decided to broadcast the recording on 4th March. There was no consultation with the Government before this broadcast.