§ Mr. Morganasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in view of the recent expression of opinion concerning the use of the fourth television channel for broadcasting programmes in the Welsh language, he will now undertake to review the whole of his policy in respect of Welsh language broadcasting.
§ Mr. BrittanThe Government believe that the proposals in the Broadcasting Bill are fair to Welsh language broadcasting and serve all the people in Wales to the best advantage. We propose, however, to request the BBC to ask its national broadcasting council and the IBA its national advisory committee to report each year on the television programmes in Welsh broadcast by the BBC and IBA respectively and how they serve the interests of people residing in Wales. These reports will be laid before the House. If they prove the Government wrong, we shall be prepared to make changes as necessary.
§ Mr. Morganasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will take steps to authorise the holding of a referendum of the Welsh people to decide whether or not priority should be given to Welsh language programmes on the fourth television channel in Wales.
§ Mr. BrittanWe have no plans to do so.