§ Mr. Geoffrey Johnson Smithasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he can now announce the remaining members of the independent inquiry into the broadcasting policy aspects of the expansion of cable.
§ Mr. WhitelawI am glad to announce that the following have now agreed to serve on the inquiry, under the Chairmanship of Lord Hunt of Tanworth:
- Sir Maurice Hodgson, who has just retired from being Chairman of I.C.I.
- Professor James Ring, Professor of Physics at the Imperial College of Science and Technology; Member of the I.B.A. 1974–81.
I am grateful to all three members for being prepared, at short notice, to undertake this onerous but important piece of Government service.
The Secretary of the Inquiry will be J. C. Davey, an Assistant Secretary in the Home Office. The address of the inquiry is:
- Inquiry into Cable Expansion and Broadcasting Policy,
- Whittington House,
- 19–30 Alfred Place,
- London WC1E 7EJ
- Telephone: 01–637–2355, Ext. 365.
I understand that the inquiry is holding its first meeting today, and hopes very shortly to issue a document inviting views on the matters outlined in its terms of reference, which were set out in my statement of 22 March.—[Vol. 20, c. 236–7.]