HC Deb 17 January 1989 vol 145 cc138-9W
Mr. Fisher

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will amend his orders banning the broadcasting of terrorist interviews so as to make clear the precedence of the statutory duty laid on the British Broadcasting Corporation and Independent Broadcasting Authority to exercise due impartiality.

Mr. Renton

My right hon. Friend has no plans to amend the notices in this way. They do not affect the impartiality of the BBC and the IBA, which continue to be able to report events and words uttered.

Mr. Fisher

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will amend his orders banning the broadcasting of terrorist interviews so as to permit an elected Sinn Fein councillor to be interviewed on matters to do with(a) housing, (b) the arts, (c) social services, (d) health, (e) planning and (f) local government finance.

Mr. Renton

No. The notices are intended to prevent the broadcasting of direct statements by persons representing those organisations named in the notices.

Mr. Fisher

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his ban on broadcasting terrorist interviews permits the words of a person representing or purporting to represent a proscribed organisation being spoken by another person while both persons appear on screen.

Mr. Renton

The 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. It is for the BBC and the IBA to decide how the directions should be applied in particular circumstances.

Mr. Fisher

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) whether his ban on broadcasting terrorist interviews covers interviews recorded more than 20 years ago;

(2) whether his ban on broadcasting terrorist interviews covers interviews recorded with persons who have since died;

(3) whether his ban on broadcasting terrorist interviews applies to archive material older than 25 years.

Mr. Renton

No time limit has been set on the use of archive material, and the restrictions may apply to the broadcasting of interviews with persons who have since died. But any statement which cannot be broadcast directly under the restrictions can still be reported and drawn upon in the course of a particular programme.

Mr. Fisher

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether it is his intention that a television play should be regarded as a genuine work of fiction for the purposes of his ban on broadcasting terrorist interviews.

Mr. Renton

Works of fiction are not subject to the restrictions. It is for the BBC and IBA to determine which programmes fall into this category.