HC Deb 19 November 1941 vol 376 cc365-6W
Commander Bower

asked the Minister of Information whether he is aware that the 6 p.m. news bulletin of the British Broadcasting Corporation on Tuesday, 11th November, contained no reference to the important statement by the Prime Minister that he did not intend to intro- duce legislation to amend Regulation 18b, following the recent majority judgment of the House of Lords; that the 9 p.m. bulletin the same day contained an inaccurate summary of the questions and answers involved; and whether he will take steps to ensure that in future the sense of proceedings in Parliament, which affect the liberties of every citizen, is accurately reported?

Mr. Bracken

The B.B.C. usually reserve for the 9 o'clock news bulletin their full account of Parliamentary proceedings, but even this is bound to be short. I have read the account to which my hon. and gallant Friend refers and do not think it can be called inaccurate. Nor do I think either that the House would welcome my issuing to the B.B.C. a direction as to the manner in which it should present its Parliamentary reports. It must be left to the editor of these news bulletins to decide what details should be included and what omitted.