§ 51. Mr. Chapmanasked the Postmaster-General whether, under the powers given to him in the Second Schedule to the Television Act, 1954, he will amend the rules concerning intervals between advertisements in programmes of the Independent Television Authority so as to prevent interruption of serious programmes of half-an-hour's length, by advertisements shown in artificially created breaks in the programme.
§ Mr. K. ThompsonNo. Under paragraph 3 of the Second Schedule of the Television Act advertisements may only appear at the beginning and end of a programme or in natural breaks in it. The I.T.A. inform me that these provisions are closely observed and firmly enforced. Section 4 (3) of the Act places on the Authority the duty of seeing that this is so.
§ 65. Mr. Ness Edwardsasked the Postmaster-General to what extent the continued breaks in the middle of the programmes, "Take Your Pick," "Double Your Money," and "Spot The Tune" conform to the provisions of the Rules for Advertising approved by him under Section 4 of the Television Act, 1954.
§ Mr. K. ThompsonThe Independent Television Authority, whose duty it is to ensure that the programme contractors conform to the provisions of the Television Act, tell me that they are satisfied that the breaks in the middle of the 61W programmes to which the right hon. Member refers are natural breaks and. as such, conform with paragraph 3 of the Second Schedule. They also observe the rule agreed by my right hon. Friend Hider paragraph 3 (a) of the Second Schedule in regard to the interval which must elapse between any two advertising periods.