§ Mr. LivingstoneTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the directions he issued on 19 October to the IBA and BBC relating to the broadcasting of statements by Northern Ireland terrorist organisations and their apologists are intended to prohibit the broadcast of words spoken by an hon. or right hon. Member.
§ Mr. RentonThe directions prevent the broadcasting of direct statements by persons representing, or purporting to represent, supporting, or inviting support for, the organisations named in the notices. They include such words spoken by an hon. or right hon. Member, unless spoken in the course of proceedings in Parliament. Words spoken by or in support of a candidate at a parliamentary, European parliamentary or local election pending that election are also excluded from the directions.
§ Mr. LivingstoneTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will amend the terms of his directions issued on 19 October to the IBA and BBC relating to the broadcasting of statements by Northern Ireland terrorist organisations and their apologists so as to exclude from its terms words spoken by an hon. or right hon. Member.
§ Mr. RentonWe have no plans to introduce such an amendment. Those words spoken by an hon. or right hon. Member in the course of proceedings in Parliament are excluded from the directions, as are words spoken by or in support of a candidate at a parliamentary, European parliamentary or local election pending that election.