§ 152. Mr. Hugh Jenkinsasked the Postmaster-General if, in view of the recommendation of the Royal Commission on the Press that television contracting companies should not be controlled by newspaper undertakings, he will seek to give effect to the recommendation that such arrangements be terminated at the earliest possible date.
§ Mr. BennNo. Section 12 of the Television Act 1964, vests in the Independent Television Authority, and in the Postmaster-General, powers intended as a safeguard against the possibility that the existence of newspaper holdings in a programme company might lead to results contrary to the public interest.
My powers under the Act place upon me a responsibility for ensuring that newspaper shareholdings in the programme companies do not develop in such a way as to be contrary to the public interest. If my hon. Friend has any evidence to suggest that the public interest is threatened, I should be grateful if he would put this evidence to me.