§ Q17. Mr. Bruce-Gardyneasked the Prime Minister whether it was with his authority that representations were made by officials of his office to Rediffusion Television regarding the appearance of 278W Mr. Peter Jay on the programme "This Week" on 23rd November.
§ The Prime MinisterIt is part of the normal courtesies observed in arranging broadcasts of this kind for the broadcasting authorities to seek and take account of the views of those they propose to interview about the choice of interviewer. Discussion about programme arrangements, including choice of interviewers, began, in the normal way, on Tuesday, 21st November, for the programme which was transmitted on Thursday, 23rd November, and Mr. Jay's name was among those then suggested as a potential interviewer. My Office, acting on my instructions, expressed from the outset of these discussions the views which I summarised in the broadcast itself.