§ Mr. William Sheltonasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government towards paragraph 14 of recommendation 834 of the Council of Europe, urging more independent broadcasting channels in order to break up monopolies.
§ Dr. SummerskillThe Government's policy is consistent with paragraph 14 of the recommendation 834 taken as a whole inasmuch as responsibility for the broadcasting services in the United Kingdom is vested in two public authorities rather than one. The existing arrangements 573W have been reviewed by the Annan Committee on the future of broadcasting whose report recommends the setting up of two additional broadcasting authorities, to supervise local radio and the unallocated fourth television channel respectively. The Government's policy in relation to these matters will be reflected in their proposals for the future constitution, structure and organisation of broadcasting which my right hon. Friend hopes to publish in the form of a White Paper before the end of this Session.