§ 30. Mr. Chapmanasked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that an artificial break was made for advertisements in the play "Parole", screened by Independent Television on Sunday, 19th March, the action being both interrupted and resumed at the climax and during a fight in an inn; that proper breaks in the action could have been used for advertisements a few minutes late; and, as this constitutes a breach of the Television Act, what action he is taking against the Independent Television Authority.
§ Mr. K. ThompsonThe Independent Television Authority, whose duty it is to secure compliance with the provisions of the Second Schedule of the Television Act, tells me that there was both a significant change of scene and of time between Acts II and III of the play and that in their view the break was a natural one.
§ 31. Mr. Chapmanasked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that, despite its own rules forbidding advertisements which make medical claims from showing medical, nursing or similar professional people as recommending their product, the Independent Television Authority is screening an advertisement for a particular form of bread recommended for slimming by such a person; and, as the Authority is failing to enforce its own rules in this way, whether he will make regulations under Section 4 (4) of the Television Act to prevent the showing of such advertisements.
§ Mr. K. ThompsonThose rules to which the hon. Member refers relate to the advertising of medicines, treatments and products which are claimed to promote health or to be beneficial in illness. The bread in question is not a medicine or treatment. The Authority is, however, already looking into the presentation of this type of advertisement.