§ Lord Orr-Ewingasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will draw the attention of the BBC to their obligation under their charter to produce balanced programmes, and whether they will ask the BBC when a programme on picketing is scheduled to balance the programme on police activities broadcast on BBC 2 on 8th November 1984.
§ The Minister of State, Home Office (Lord Elton)The annex to the licence and agreement between the Home Secretary and the BBC sets out a resolution of the Board of Governors dated 8th January 1981 in which the board reaffirmed its long-standing commitment to provide a properly balanced service which displays a wide range of subject matter and to treat controversial subjects with due impartiality, both in the corporation's news services and in programmes dealing with matters of public policy. Responsibility for giving effect to that commitment is a matter for the governors rather than the Government.