§ Mr. Ness Edwardsasked the Assistant Postmaster-General when the last meeting of the Sports Television Advisory Committee took place; and how far it is intended to use the services of this body to facilitate the broadcasting, on sound and television, of sporting events.
§ Mr. GammansThe Sports Television Advisory Committee, which last met in April, 1951, was set up as a fact-finding body, and I would refer to the statement of its conclusions which I gave on 5th March, 1952, in answer to a Question by the hon. Member for Hendon, North (Mr. C. I. Orr-Ewing). For the present my noble Friend does not think that the Committee's sphere of usefulness can be extended but that the most promising way of facilitating the broadcasting of sporting events is by free negotiation between the parties directly concerned.
§ Mr. Ness Edwardsasked the Assistant Postmaster-General what progress has been made in resolving the differences between the British Broadcasting Corporation and the sports authorities with regard to the televising of sporting events.
§ Mr. GammansI am informed that the B.B.C. is engaged in discussions with representatives of the Association for the Protection of Copyright in Sport in order to work out a scheme for cooperation if legislation is introduced on the lines recommended by the Board of Trade Copyright Committee. They are also discussing the possibility of arriving at an agreement in the interim period. There are considerable practical difficulties to be resolved but the problems are being approached with good will on both sides.