§ 43. Mr. Peter Smithersasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware of the terms of a motion passed at the last session of the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe with regard to the establishment of a European television network; and whether he will consult with his noble Friend the Postmaster-General with a 3W view to ensuring effective British support for the industry in its efforts to bring such a network into being at an early date.
§ Mr. Dodds-ParkerI am aware of the recommendations to which my hon. Friend refers. I am informed that a number of European broadcasting authorities, including the B.B.C., are planning an interchange of television programmes over an international network to be set up temporarily in the middle of next year; further progress must await the outcome of this experiment.