§ Mr. Wyn Robertsasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the BBC and IBA continue to maintain records of hon. Members' broadcasts on radio and television; if so, when he last inspected such records; and what figures have been supplied to him relating to the numbers of broadcasts made by members of each of the political parties.
§ Mr. JohnThese are matters for the broadcasting authorities, who tell me that records are maintained of hon. Members' participation in broadcast network programmes. Information about participation in BBC broadcast network programmes is summarised in the BBC 1977 Handbook. In arranging such broadcasts, the broadcasting authorities pay particular regard to their overriding obligation to ensure 501W in the public interest, accuracy in the presentation of news and fairness and due impartiality in their programmes on political issues and matters of current public policy.