§ Mr. Canavanasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has reviewed the BBC's formal obligations under its licence and agreement in the light of the introduction of regular parliamentary broadcasts.
§ Mr. Merlyn Rees:Yes. After consultation with the BBC, I have varied the 203W notice under clause 13(4) of the BBC's licence and agreement so that the requirement that the BBC should refrain from sending broadcast matter expressing its own opinions on current affairs and matters of public policy does not apply to its broadcasts of parliamentary or local authority proceedings. The variation of the notice corresponds with the amendment made by section 2 of the Independent Broadcasting Authority Act 1978 to section 4(2) of the Independent Broadcasting Authority Act 1973.
Copies of the notice of variation have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.