§ Mr. Staintonasked the Postmaster-General if he will give details of any notice which is in force pursuant to the terms of section 14(4) of the British Broadcasting Corporation Licence and Agreement; and what previous notices have been given to the British Broadcasting Corporation under the present licence.
§ Mr. BennNotices are in force requiring the B.B.C. not to broadcast expressions of its own opinion on current affairs or on matters of public policy; party political broadcasts other than those in the agreed series; and subliminal messages. The full texts of these notices are contained in the "Memoranda by the Postmaster-General to the B.B.C.", copies of which are in the Library of the House. No other notices have been issued.
§ Mr. Staintonasked the Postmaster-General in what circumstances and by what criteria he is prepared to use his reserve powers under section 14(4) of the British Broadcasting Corporation Licence and Agreement.
§ Mr. BennReserve powers are, by definition, powers only to be exercised in the last resort. For this reason it is not possible to define the circumstances and criteria which would govern their use.