HC Deb 20 July 1988 vol 137 cc696-7W
Mr. Cohen

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the membership, role and functions of the defence press and broadcasting committee.

Mr. Ian Stewart

The membership of the defence press and broadcasting committee is:

Member Role Function
Sir Michael Quinlan Permanent Under Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence Chairman
J. M. Ramsden Editor-in-Chief, Flight International Vice Chairman and representing Periodical Publishers Association
Sir Clive Whitmore Permanent Under Secretary of State, Home Office
K. C. Macdonald Second Permanent Under Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence
J. D. I. Boyd Deputy Under Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office
J. Bishop Editor-in-Chief, Illustrated London News Group Representing Periodical Publishers Association
P. Cole Deputy Managing Editor ITN Representing ITN
J. K. Donlan Managing Editor, News and Special Projects, The Sun Representing Newspaper Publishers Associa-tion
M. Hoy Managing Editor, The Times Representing Newspaper Publishers Associa-tion
E. Laird Editor-in-Chief, Sunday Mail, Glasgow Representing Scottish Daily Newspaper Society
A. C. D. Stuart Editor-in-Chief, Thomson Regional Newspapers Limited Representing Newspaper Society
D. Trelford Editor, The Observer Representing Newspaper Publishers Associa-tion
C. Webb Editor-in-Chief, The Press Association Representing Press Association
K. Whetstone Representing Newspaper Society
J. Wilson Controller, Editorial Policy, BBC Representing BBC
Secretary Rear Admiral W. A. Higgins (Retired)
Deputy Secretary Rear Admiral A. J. Whetstone (Retired)

The defence press and broadcasting committee is a joint Government—media committee established to provide advice to editors, publishers and producers on the publication of information which the Government consider they have a duty to protect in the interests of national security. The day-to-day business of the committee is conducted by its secretary and the committee meets as circumstances dictate but no less frequently than once every six months. The D notice system is advisory and voluntary, and has no statutory force.

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