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(Continued from overleaf)
Earl Ferrers: I can let my noble friend know now. I take the point about wanting to see the amendments tabled as soon as possible. Now we are coming towards the Recess, it seems a good opportunity to get everything done. Your Lordships will go away, but the
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trouble is that other people go away too. I shall do my best to see that the amendments are put down as soon as possible.
Concerning the laying of the code before Parliament, I make it quite clear to my noble friend that it will be the code of the Independent Television Commission. It is for that organisation to make the code. It is not subject to parliamentary approval for the simple reason that it will be Parliament that approves, adjusts, alters or disapproves of the code. The whole point of the arrangement at the moment is that Parliament should tell the ITC the kinds of things that are wanted in the code. It is up to the ITC to put those matters in its own way.
The Earl of Halsbury: The noble Earl appears to be speaking to my Amendment No. 92. I shall move it when it is called in due course.
Earl Ferrers: It is grouped with Amendment No. 85, which we have not yet reached.
The Earl of Halsbury: We shall come to it later in the evening.
Lord Wyatt of Weeford: In view of what the noble Earl has said in going some way to meet the substance of our amendment, we await with interest the product of the Government's labours. In the meantime we shall be happy to withdraw the amendment.
The Deputy Chairman of Committees (Lord Cocks of Hartcliffe): Is it your Lordships' pleasure that the amendment be withdrawn?
Noble Lords: No.
A Noble Lord: What amendment is it? The Deputy Chairman of Committees: Amendment No. 80. The amendment is, by leave, withdrawn.
Noble Lords: No. On Question, amendment negatived.
Baroness Cox moved Amendment No. 81:
Page 6, line 11, leave out ("current").
The noble Baroness said: With gratitude to my noble friend the Minister, I beg to move.
On Question, amendment agreed to.
Earl Ferrers moved Amendment No. 82:
Page 6, line 12, leave out ("and") and insert:
("(cc) that due responsibility is exercised with respect to the content of any of its programmes which
are religious programmes, and that in particular any such programmes do not involve -
(i) any improper exploitation of any susceptibilities of those watching the programmes, or
(ii) any abusive treatment of the religious views and beliefs of those belonging to a particular
religion or religious denomination; and").
The noble Earl said: I spoke to this amendment with Amendment No. 9. I beg to move.
On Question, amendment agreed to.
[Amendments Nos. 83 and 84 not moved.]
Lord Thompson of Monifieth moved Amendment No. 85:
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Page 6, line 20, after ("Commission ") insert ("in consultation with the licence holders and
other interested parties").
The noble Lord said: I need not take up the Committee's time with what is a simple proposition. We are anxious to ensure that consultation at this stage should be not only with licence holders but with other interested parties. With "other interested parties" we are drawing attention to the need to consult consumer groups and specialist bodies in particular areas. For example, I think of the need to consult the Charity Commission and other charity bodies where charity issues are involved. We want to ensure that the fullest possible consultation takes place. I beg to move.
Earl Ferrers: We expect that the ITC may wish to consult licensees about impartiality in the general programme codes as they will be subject to it. But we do not see a need to create a formal statutory requirement for them to do so, which we think would be impractical and unnecessary. The Independent Television Commission is obliged to publish the impartiality and the general code for programmes. Licensees or indeed any other interested parties will certainly be able to comment on them.
Lord Thomson of Monifieth: In the light of the Minister's reply, I beg leave to withdraw the amendment.
Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.
[Amendment No. 86 not moved.]
Baroness Cox moved Amendment No. 87:
Page 6, line 34, leave out ("current").
On Question, amendment agreed to.
Earl Ferrers moved Amendment No. 88:
Page 6, line 35, leave out from ("policy") to end of line 38.
The noble Earl said: I spoke to this amendment with Amendment No. 9. I beg to move.
On Question, amendment agreed to.
Clause 6, as amended, agreed to.
Clause 7 [General code for programmes] :
11.00 p.m.
[Amendment No. 89 not moved.]
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