HC Deb 30 November 1989 vol 162 c395W
Mr. Allen

To ask the Lord President of the Council whether Members will be permitted to install television satellite dishes at the House(a) for non-parliamentary programming and (b) to receive live pictures of the Chamber.

Sir Geoffrey Howe

The reception of satellite television programmes in the House and its precincts is being considered by the Services Committee. Pending any final decision, the Accommodation and Administration Sub-Committee has resolved that no Member be allowed to make individual arrangements for reception of this service. I have no doubt that the Select Committee on Televising of Proceedings of the House will want to consider carefully the implications of any proposal to allow Members to receive in their rooms any satellite channel dedicated to continuous coverage of the House's proceedings, especially in the light of the Committee's decision not to accede to requests from Members to receive the clean feed direct from the Chamber.