§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware of the growing practice of the BBC of selecting a few Members of Parliament to act as commentators and to take part in programmes which give them an unfair political advantage over their political adversaries; and whether he will, in accordance with the BBC charter, take steps to see that the tendency towards political bias is ended.
§ Mr. Merlyn ReesThe incidence of hon. Members' participation in broadcast programmes is not a matter for me. The BBC assures me, however, that invitations to hon. Members to take part in programes take full account of its acknowledged obligation to ensure as far as practicable due impartiality in its broadcast programmes.