HC Deb 15 November 1979 vol 973 cc709-10W
27. Mr Dickens

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a condition of the operation of the second ITV channel that coverage of sport on the fourth channel should be limited, in the interests of a balanced provision of programmes.

Mr. Whitelaw

It will be for the IBA to achieve a balance of programmes over the two television channels for which it will be responsible.

32. Mr. Wigley

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, in view of the Independent Broadcasting Authority's decision to give priority to constructing new transmitters for the fourth channel in Wales, he will reconsider his decision not to allocate the fourth television channel in Wales for Welsh language programmes; and if he will consider a separate control structure for this channel in Wales to answer the language requirements of Wales.

Mr. Whitelaw

The considerations which led the Government to conclude that all Welsh language programmes should not be concentrated on the fourth television channel in Wales were explained in my message to the Welsh national broadcasting conference—a copy of which has been placed in the Library of the House. They are not affected by the decision of the IBA, which I welcome, to give priority to Wales in its plans for engineering the fourth channel. I intend to establish consultative machinery to achieve complementary scheduling of Welsh language programmes on the IBA and BBC channels, but I believe that it is essential to ensure that the responsibility for programme content of their respective programme services continues to rest with the broadcasting authorities.

38. Mr. D. E. Thomas

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received concerning the fourth television channel.

Mr. Whitelaw

I have received a number of suggestions as to the organisation of the fourth channel generally. I have also had representations on the following specific aspects: the sale of advertising; daytime programming; educational programmes; the quota of foreign programmes; access for independent producers; regional programmes; Welsh language broadcasting; and programmes from and about women.