Televising (Lighting) (Hansard, 27 May 1988)

§ Mr. Wakeham

Arrangements have been made for the BBC and ITN to hold a lighting demonstration in the Chamber at 10.30 am on Tuesday 14 June. All right hon. and hon. Members are invited to attend.

Further details are given in a letter from the chief political adviser, BBC, to the Clerk of the Select Committee on the Televising of Proceedings of the House. A copy has been placed in the Library. The text of the letter is as follows: This will confirm our discussions about the lighting demonstration for the televising of the Commons. We have agreed that this should take place on Tuesday, 14th June at 10.30 am. The broadcasters (BBC and ITN) will arrange for a demonstration of the different types of lighting which would provide adequate pictures for television companies. We will also have in the Chamber a camera, a remote control mechanism and a possible "hide" for these. As you will understand, it is not possible for such a demonstration to be mounted in anything other than a workmanlike way. The lighting will be mounted on scaffolding poles. Because we shall be demonstrating more than one lighting type, there will be more lights than would be needed for the final version. There will be no opportunity to make any concession to aesthetics. We can only give an indication of what options could be available. The final installation would be very different. I am worried that, if these limitations are not understood, it might be thought that the broadcasters were contemplating some insensitive installation. This is not so and I wanted to emphasise this to the Committee at this point. We will be in touch with the Serjeant-at-Arms and we will ask the PSA about the practical details for the work. The PSA will put in the scaffolding over the weekend and we will test out the lighting systems. The scaffolding will be left in on the Monday, and we shall put in the lights overnight Monday/Tuesday in preparation for the demonstration. We will then remove the lights for Tuesday's sitting. The PSA will be requested to remove the scaffolding on Tuesday night, so that by Wednesday, 15th, there should be no trace of us.