HL Deb 31 March 1980 vol 407 cc1251-2WA
Lord BROCKWAY

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will support the recommendations of the UNESCO-sponsored conference on communications in relation to:

  1. (i) the rights of journalists, including condemnation of censorship, access to dissident opinion, and admission to all countries with full facilities: and
  2. (ii) the correction of the imbalance of international news, at present distributed largely by a few agencies centred in the industrial countries, by the establishment of national agencies, particularly in the developing countries.

The SECRETARY of STATE for FOREIGN and COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS (Lord Carrington)

The full report of the MacBride International Commission for the Study of Communications Problems is not yet available. When it is received the Government will consider all of the Commission's recommendations. However, I can assure the noble Lord that the Government continue to uphold the principle of freedom of the Press and its independence of Government with all that implies for the exercise of their profession by journalists. The establishment of national agencies, particularly in developing countries, is a matter for the countries concerned: but British help has been given on a number of occasions when requested.