HC Deb 27 April 1966 vol 727 c38W
Mr. William Hamilton

asked the Lord President of the Council by what authority cameras were allowed in the House of Commons on the occasion of the opening of Parliament; and in what ways Members of the House were consulted.

Mr. Bowden

I would refer to the Answer which I gave to the Question by my hon. Friend the Member for West Ham, North (Mr. Arthur Lewis) on Tuesday, 26th April.

Mr. Rowland

asked the Lord President of the Council if the resolution passed on 7th March 1966 by the Select Committee on House of Commons, Services, to give permission to the British Broadcasting Corporation to install a camera in the gallery of the House of Commons on the State Opening of Parliament was based on the prior request by the British Broadcasting Corporation for this particular facility on this particular occasion.

Mr. Bowden

The request made by the B.B.C. was for general facilities to broadcast the State Opening ceremony in television and sound. In recommending to Mr. Speaker that this request should be agreed, the Select Committee on House of Commons (Services) resolved that permission should be given to the B.B.C., if they so wished, to install an additional camera in the Gallery of the House of Commons.