§ 25. Mr. JackTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received on the obligations of commercial radio stations to include news in their programming under his proposed new arrangements for broadcasting; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. RentonSome comments on the radio Green Paper published last year suggested that commercial stations 655W should continue to be required to include in their broadcasts a certain amount of news. We have, however, taken the view that stations should be able to decide for themselves on the basis of their own judgment of listeners' wishes how much, if any, news to provide and in what form. The legislative proposals we shall bring before Parliament will however include a provision requiring that any news that is broadcast by a licensed station must be presented with accuracy and impartiality.